The athletics events of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, broadcast exclusively by KBS, are drawing high viewership and nationwide attention. KBS has brought viewers to the heart of the competition by broadcasting various athletics events live, including the marathon, high jump, and relays.

The standout event in terms of ratings was the men's high jump final featuring Woo Sang-hyeok. Held on the 27th, the competition ranked first in daily viewership with 9.8%, with a peak moment rating of 14.2%. On the same day, the women's 400m relay preliminaries (featuring Kim Myeong-ji, Kim Seo-yun, Kim Ju-ha, and Seo Ji-hyeon) took second place with 8.5%, while the men's 400m relay preliminaries (featuring Kim Si-on, Joel Jin, Biewesa, and Lee Jae-seong) recorded 7.5% for third place.

A day earlier, on the 26th, the women's marathon final (featuring Lim Ye-jin and Choi Kyeong-seon), broadcast live on KBS 1TV, ranked second among that day's events with 5.3%. The men's marathon final featuring Park Min-ho and Kim Hong-rok took third with 4.6%, and the men's 200m preliminaries featuring Namadi Joel Jin recorded 4.5% for fourth place.

■ Park Min-ho Finishes Despite Injury: "This Time, I Refused to Give Up"

In the men's marathon final, Park Min-ho and Kim Hong-rok delivered a deeply moving display of determination. Park Min-ho managed to finish the race despite an injury. After the race, he said, "I thought a small pebble had gotten stuck in my shoe, but going downhill I realized the sole of my foot had torn. I felt pain, and it was disappointing that I couldn't maintain my pace."

He continued, "At the last World Championships, I ended up withdrawing mid-race because my condition was poor, so this time I was determined not to give up and pushed through to the end." Although he fell short of medal contention, he vowed, "I will quietly keep preparing and prove myself as a runner who grows step by step."

■ Tearful Lim Ye-jin: "If Only I Had Come in Better Shape, It Would Have Been Worth a Fight"

After the women's marathon final, Lim Ye-jin shed tears and shared her thoughts: "I was injured, so there was a lot lacking in my preparation for the race. I think if I had come in good shape, it would have been worth a fight, so it was a disappointing race."

KBS broadcast the scene live exclusively even as the athletes drifted out of medal contention, conveying their fighting spirit to the nation. Under the slogan 'Moments of Unity Once Again, the Asian Games on KBS,' KBS continues to deliver a variety of athletics events and the athletes' moments to viewers throughout the 16 days of the Games.