Posted on: Tuesday, June 25, 2002

Big Islander trains for disabled games

Advertiser Staff

Big Island wheelchair racer Bong Ho Lee will be competing in the Eighth Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled in October in Pusan, Korea.

The part-owner of the Tropical Bag Company in Kailua, Kona is taking the next couple of months off to train.

Lee left Hawai'i June 16 to work with former Hawai'i resident Jacob Heilveil in Seattle. He will compete in races in Seattle, New York, Minnesota and Atlanta before heading to Korea later next month to train with the Korea national team.

For the 32-year-old Lee, the Korea games are a stepping stone to the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

"I want to go to a lot of big events," he said. "The Asian Olympics are a good test for me."

Lee was the first Hawai'i wheelchair finisher — fifth overall — in last year's Honolulu Marathon. He has been using a wheelchair since he was stricken with polio at age 5.

Although he has been living here for 16 years, Lee is still a citizen of South Korea, the reason he will train with the Korea national team. He said he is working toward gaining American citizenship.

"Then I can get more sponsorships from American companies," he said. "That's why they want me to do the U.S. races."

Lee competes in the 800, 1,500 and 10,000 meters, as well as the 400, 800 and 1,600 relays.