ASIA: An Sehyeon Shines as 1st Korean Woman to Make 2 Finals at Worlds

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Since the first World Championships took place in 1973, Korea has only had 6 swimmers reach the finals. Korean swimmer An Sehyeon made history this week when she became this first Korean woman to swim in multiple championship finals. Tonight, An swam in her 2nd final of the meet when she stepped up for the 200 butterfly. She was just one place shy of the podium, smashing the former Korean Record of 2:07.22 when she touched 4th with a personal best 2:06.67.

Earlier in the meet, An competed in the final of the women’s 100 fly. In that race, she finished 5th with a 57.07, lowering the Korean Record in that event as well.

An isn’t the only Korean woman to have swum her way into a championship final this week. In the women’s 200 IM, Kim Seoyeong earned a 6th place finish with a time of 2:10.40. She had set the Korean Record in that event a day earlier with her 2:09.86 from the semis. On the men’s side, Olympic champ Park Tae Hwan earned a spot in the finals of the 400 free and 200 free, finishing 4th and 8th in those races respectively.

Though An is now done with her meet individually, Kim still has the 200 back on Friday and the 400 IM to come on the final day of the meet. She’s currently the Korean Record holder in the 400 IM with a 4:35.93 from Korean Trials in May. Kim is currently seeded 9th in the 400 IM and has a strong shot at becoming the 2nd Korean woman to make 2 finals at Worlds if she performs well in that race.

DAY 5 RECORDS – ASIA:

  • Men’s 200 IM: Tan Haiyang (CHN), Junior World Record, 1:57.01
  • Women’s 200 Fly: An Sehyeon (KOR), Korean Record, 2:06.67

DAY 5 SWIMMING MEDAL TABLE – ASIA:

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
China 3 2 2 7
Japan 0 2 1 3

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About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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