'They didn't know anything about him': Corkman Curtin had South Korean commentators scrambling

Fearghal Curtin won the Gyeongju International Marathon in a new Irish record. 

Fearghal Curtin ran the Gyeongju Marathon in his Youghal AC singlet. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Fearghal Curtin leading, and eventually winning, the Gyeongju International Marathon on Saturday caught television commentators in South Korea off guard. They were not expecting the 27-year-old to be at the head of the field, one featuring athletes anticipated to be more competitive than the Corkman. 

Curtin, running in his Youghal AC singlet - a choice of gear he suspects may have contributed to the low expectations - eventually won in a new Irish record of 2:07:54. 

In an interview with the Irish Examiner before the race, Curtin had predicted if conditions were in his favour, he could break Peter Lynch's Irish record of 2:09:36. 

That same interview was the main source of information for the South Korean commentators over the course of the two hours. 

“The event was aired live on national TV in Korea,” Curtin's father Noel, who was at the finish line to greet his son, told Echolive.ie.

“I was speaking to one of the Korean journalists after the race and she said the commentators didn't know anything about him, but they Googled his name and found the Examiner piece and the content of that article kept them going.

"The Examiner now has millions of new followers in Korea, as does Fearghal!”