As Paris Olympics Fever Soars, Find Your Fix In These Sports Based K-Dramas

The 2024 Summer Paris Olympics is underway in full swing. The biggest sporting event kicked-off on July 24 and will continue till August 11. As K-drama enthusiasts, we can't help but dream about how thrilling it would be to see some Korean stars compete in the Olympics. Here are a few sports-based K-dramas that you can watch instead to see your favourite stars in action mode and on the field.

Lovely Runner

Byeon Woo Seok, who played Ryu Sun Jae in Lovely Runner was an aspiring swimmer who trains with the real-life Olympic gold medalist Park Tae Hwan. Park Tae Hwan, who won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, brings authenticity to the show. 

The drama heightens the excitement with a thrilling swimming face-off between Park Tae Hwan and Byeon Woo Seok’s character.

Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Set in 1998, Twenty-Five, Twenty-One explores the journey of young people finding new paths and growing after their dreams are shattered. Kim Tae Ri plays Na Hee Do, a fencing athlete whose high school team disbands due to the IMF crisis.

She receives support from Yang Chan Mi, a fencing medalist and coach portrayed by Kim Hye Eun. Kim Tae Ri is said to have trained every morning for her role and continued practising outside of filming. With Na Hee Do's extensive competition experience and champion status, she is set to be an inspiring figure this sports season.

Racket Boys

This K-drama tells the story of a middle school boys' badminton team in Haenam as they compete in a junior athletic competition. The main characters, Park Tae Yang and Park Tae Joon, are perfect choices to represent South Korea in badminton. 

Throughout the story, the 16-year-old boys and girls in Haenam grow personally. The drama focuses on their quest to win the competition and the challenges they encounter along the way. If you're a badminton fan, this K-drama will be a real treat for you.

Fight For My Way

This K-drama features Dong Man, portrayed by Park Seo Joon, a taekwondo and martial arts expert. After losing a competitive fight, Dong Man loses his self-confidence and sets his dreams aside. 

The story of Dong Man and Ae Ra in Fight For My Way draws inspiration from the real-life story of MMA champion Choo Sung Hoon and his fashion model wife Yano Shiho. Their lives motivated writer Lim Sang Chun to explore the experiences of athletes and their families.

W: Two Worlds’ Lee Jong Suk

In this K- drama, lead actor Kang Chul wins an Olympic gold in the series. As a genius and fierce competitor, Kang Chul shows a strong mentality and a highly competitive nature. 

His impressive skills are evident from the beginning of the drama.