Actor From “Descendants Of The Sun” Turns Into Record-Breaking National Athlete

A familiar face from the world of K-Drama has made an impeccable transition into a national hero, thanks to his career shift from acting to sports.

Joel Jin Nwamandi is a former child actor best known for his role in the KBS2 series Descendants of the Sun. But now, his name is front and center in Korean publications as the nation’s first-ever gold medalist in the men’s 400-meter relay at a major global athletics event.

In 2016, Nwamadi left a lasting impression on the viewers of Descendants of the Sun with his portrayal of a young boy from an imaginary, war-torn land called Uruk. His delivery in one of the most iconic scenes from the K-Drama, where his character says, “I want a goat, not shoes,” portrayed the bleak reality of children in conflict-torn areas, leaving viewers sentimental.

Now, almost a decade later, Nwamadi is a national-level athlete. As the son of a former Nigerian long jumper, he inherited his father’s passion for athletics— track and field to be particular. Nwamadi started his athletic career in elementary school and rose through youth competitions, winning medals left and right.

Nwamadi made his debut as an adult athlete in April this year at the Korean national team trials for the Asian Athletics Championships. He won first place in the men’s 100-meter race. However, his actual breakout moment was in May, when the Korean men’s 400-meter relay team won their first-ever gold medal in the history of the Asian Championships, setting a national record of 38.49 seconds.

Then again in July this year, Nwamadi and his teammates won the gold medal at the 400-meter relay at the 2025 Summer Universiade in Germany, with a timing of 38.50 seconds. The Korean team narrowly defeated the team from South Africa to snatch the first position.

Nwamadi and his team’s achievements have garnered significant attention since Korea has never won gold in a global relay event before. On July 29, when he returned home, he was greeted by the fierce love and support of his fellow Koreans.

Nwamadi’s journey from a child actor to an icon in South Korean sports history is extraordinarily inspiring, to say the least.