World Champions Kim Woomin, Hwang Sunwoo Eye Korean History In Paris

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

• Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
  • Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
• La Défense Arena – Paris, France
• LCM (50 meters)
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Swimming action at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games is just days away and the nation of South Korea is primed to make potential history in La Défense Arena.

Key members of the Olympic squad spoke to the media before departing for Paris, including 400m free world champion Kim Woomin and 200m free world champion Hwang Sunwoo.

22-year-old Woomin holds the most individual Olympic event entries of any swimmer across all nations, male or female, set to race in the 200m/400m/800m/1500m free events and the 10k open water race.

As a refresher, new this year is the rule from World Aquatics that swimmers who have achieved an Olympic Qualification Time (OQT, aka “A” cut), in the 800 or 1500 free, and swims either race at the Olympic Games, are eligible to swim the 10km open water race in Paris – presuming it doesn’t put countries over the 2-per-country limit. Such is the case for Kim.

Kim broke through in Doha by topping the 400m free podium in a time of 3:42.71 to become the first Korean 400m free world champion since Park Taehwan at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.

Kim knocked that mark down to 3:42.42 on the Mare Nostrum Tour in June to rank as the world’s 4th-fastest performer of the season.

As for Hwang, the 21-year-old Olympic finalist from Tokyo will take on the 100m and 200m free events, the latter of which he currently ranks 3rd in the world, courtesy of his 1:44.40 from last year’s Asian Games.

Kim and Hwang will comprise half of the men’s 4x200m free relay, with Korea steadily moving up the ranks with gold at the Asian Games followed by silver only .10 behind China this year in Doha.

“I’ve read articles that have me finish in third place. It’d be nice just to be on the podium but I’d love to reach the very top,” Kim said of his premier 400m free event. “Ever since I started swimming, my dream has always been to win an Olympic gold.

“I’ve grown more confident because I’ve endured hard training. I’m really looking forward to the Olympics,” he said. “If I do well out of the gate, I can fire up the rest of the Korean delegation. I am so confident I can’t wait to jump into the pool.” (Yonhap)

The 400m free falls on day one, with heats in the morning and the final, medal-contending race immediately in the evening.

As for Hwang, he said, “The 200m will be a really tight race, and I think the eight finalists will be separated by fingertips.

“We’ve had eight swimmers put up times in the 1:44 range and I can’t predict how it will play out in the Olympics. But I’d love to reach the podium.

“If I can execute things I’ve practiced so far, I should produce good results,” he said. “I’ve won medals at the past three world championships and the Asian Games last year. I’ve been working toward an Olympic medal for the past three years and I am confident.” (Yonhap)

Comparing his experience in Tokyo 3 years ago to his mindset now, Hwang said, “I didn’t know what I was doing back then. But I’ve gained a ton of experience of the past three years and this is my time to let that show.”

The South Korean contingent has the full backing of Head Coach Lee Jung-hun, who said “Our athletes have gone through grueling training to reach this point.

“If they can avoid injuries, I think we have a few athletes who can stand on the podium.”

Park remains the sole South Korean swimmer ever to have earned an Olympic medal. The freestyle ace won 400m gold and 200m free silver in 2008, followed by silver in both events 4 years later at the London Games.