World Junior Record Holder Hwang Sunwoo Heads Up Korean OLY Roster

The nation of South Korea has unveiled its roster for this month’s Olympic Games, with its 12-strong lineup consisting of 7 women and 5 men. This year’s contingency hosts 4 more athletes than the 2016 edition, with Kim Seoyeong and An Sehyeon representing the only repeats from Rio.

South Korea was medal-less 5 years ago, with the top finisher being that of Seoyeong who placed 9th in the women’s 100m fly. National record holder and 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 400m free, Park Tae Hwan, wound up being a non-factor, as the man had been banned leading up to the Olympic Games and was only granted permission to compete at the 11th hour.

Although Park has not officially retired, the 31-year-old has been out of competition since last year. In his absence, Hwang Sunwoo looks to be Korea’s strongest potential medalist on the men’s side.

18-year-old Hwang set the World Junior Record in the men’s 200m free just this past May, clocking a super quick 1:44.96. That ranks the teen as the 5th fastest performer in the world this season heading into Tokyo.

2020-2021 LCM Men 200 Free

TomGBR
Dean
07/27
1:44.22
2Duncan
Scott
GBR1:44.2607/27
3Hwang
Sunwoo
KOR1:44.6207/25
4Katsuo
Matsumoto
JPN1:44.6504/05
5Fernando
Scheffer
BRA1:44.6607/27
View Top 26»

On the women’s side, Sehyeon ranks 19th in the 200m IM, owning a season-best of 2:10.69 from last November.

Full South Korean Roster for 2020 Olympic Games

Men

LEE Juho (100m back, 200m back)

CHO Sung Jae (100m breast, 200m breast)

MOON Seungwo (100m fly, 200m fly)

HWANG Sunwoo (50m free, 100m free, 200m free, 4*200m freestyle relay)

LEE Hojoon (400m free, 4*200m freestyle relay)

LEE Yooyeon (4*200m freestyle relay)

KIM Woomin (4*200m freestyle relay)

 

Women

KIM Seoyeong (200m IM, 4*200m freestyle relay)

LEE Eunji (100m back, 200m back, 4*200m freestyle relay)

HAN Dakyung (400m free, 800m free, 1500m free, 4*200m freestyle relay)

JUNG Hyunyoung (4*200m freestyle relay)

AN Sehyeon (100m butterfly)

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john26
3 years ago

I had a dream last night where he blasted a 1:44.1 in the semis in TOkyo

Khachaturian
3 years ago

Possible legend in the making

SWIMGUY12345
3 years ago

Does he have any interest in swimming in the USA for college?

Aquajosh
3 years ago

Yay! Sehyeon made it! Really surprised Korea didn’t try for a 4×100 men’s medley relay given that they have qualifiers in every stroke.

I still think by 2028, they’ll be a world superpower in swimming.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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