Hwang Sunwoo Lowers Korean National Record En Route To 200 Free Silver

2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• June 18-25, 2022 (pool swimming)
• Budapest, Hungary
• Duna Arena
• LCM (50-meter format)
• Full Aquatics Schedule
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The men’s 200m free field delivered a roaring start to day three of the 2022 FINA World Aquatics Championships, with winner David Popovici of Romania firing off a head-turning mark of 1:43.21.

Although it was Great Britain’s Tom Dean who led at the half in a blistering 49.81 opener, 17-year-old Popovici was the one who soared to the wall first. Dean wound up with the bronze in 1:44.98 but between the aforementioned with the silver was Hwang Sunwoo of South Korea.

19-year-old Hwang ripped a big-time 1:44.47 to snag second place and rake in a new lifetime best and Korean national record.

Entering this meet, the teen’s quickest time was represented by the 1:44.62 he put up in the heats of the event at the 2020 Olympic Games. He ultimately wound up 7th in 1:45.26 there in Tokyo.

At the Olympics, Hwang’s heat time was comprised of splits to the tune of 50.12/54.50, while tonight’s new PB saw the Korean open in 50.72 and bring it home in 53.75.

Hwang’s 1:44.47 here in Budapest adds to his growing collection of sub-1:45 times, with the Suwon-Si native slowly starting to overlap former national record holder and Olympic medalist Park Tae Hwan on the all-time Korean performances list.

Top 10 Korean Men’s 200m Freestyle Times in History

1. Hwang Sunwoo – 1:44.47
2. Hwang Sunwoo – 1:44.62
3. Park Tae Hwan – 1:44.80
4. Park Tae Hwan – 1:44.85
5. Park Tae Hwan – 1:44.92
6. Park Tae Hwan – 1:44.93
7. Hwang Sunwoo – 1:44.96
8. Park Tae Hwan – 1:45.16
9. Park Tae Hwan – 1:45.25
10. Hwang Sunwoo – 1:45.26

Hwang’s 1:44.47 ranks him as the 12th fastest performer in history worldwide, factoring in Popovici whose gold medal-winning effort renders him the 4th fastest man of all time.