Kim Woomin Notches 3:45.59 400 Free To Take Over World #1 Spot

2023 KOREAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2023 Korean Swimming Championships wrapped up from Gimcheon tonight but not before additional World Championships qualifying times were logged.

Following up on his 1500m free victory here, Kim Woomin got it done for gold in the 400m free. The 21-year-old produced a winning effort of 3:45.59 to not only top the podium by over 8 seconds but also get under the World Aquatics ‘A’ standard of 3:48.15 needed for Fukuoka.

Kim’s performance represents his second personal best in as many days. Yesterday he punched a result of 1:46.10 in the 200m free for bronze, his best time by over a second, while tonight’s 400m free time sliced .05 off his previous PB of 3:45.64 produced at the 2022 World Championships. There in Budapest, he placed 6th in the final.

Kim’s 3:45.59 now ranks him #1 in the world this season, overtaking Australia’s Elijah Winnington who previously topped the rankings with his 3:45.84 from December’s Queensland Championships.

2022-2023 LCM Men 400 Free

SamuelAUS
Short
04/17
3:42.46
2Lukas
Martens
GER3:43.3204/01
3Daniel
Wiffen
IRL3:44.3504/13
4Marco
De Tullio
ITA3:44.6904/13
5Felix
Auboeck
AUT3:44.7104/13
View Top 26»

We noted how Kim was among the 4-man Korean squad that recently completed a 35-day training stint in Australia under coach Richard Scarce.

The men’s 400m IM also saw a World Championships-worthy performance, courtesy of Kim Min-seok. Kim got his hands on the wall in a result of 4:17.36, narrowly dipping under the time standard of 4:17.48 needed for Fukuoka.m

Kim’s outing represents the sole result to get under 4:20 in tonight’s race and situates Kim just outside the top 10 performers on the season.

On the women’s front, Kim Seoyeong qualified for Fukuoka in her second event, winning the women’s 400m IM. Kim clocked a time of 4:42.80 to get under the World Aquatics ‘A’ standard of 4:43.06 in the process. This pairs with her 200m IM QT from earlier this meet.

Kim owns the Korean national record in this 4IM event with her best-ever 4:35.93 from 2017.

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Demarrit Steenbergen
2 months ago

Kim woomin is the next park tae hwan

lina
Reply to  Demarrit Steenbergen
2 months ago

He just needs to be himself, not someone else.

Chas
2 months ago

Lots of good Korean movies. Not surprised they’d have lots of good middle distance freestylers.

Justhereforfun
2 months ago

I’m calling this the Hwang effect

rob
2 months ago

That time will go down on the weekend in Magdeburg. If Lukas Märtens, Wellbrock or Romanchuck swims the 400. They just had a 3 week altitude camp

Hannover
Reply to  rob
2 months ago

Florian Wellbrock won’t swim the 400 free

Rob
Reply to  Hannover
2 months ago

Are the psych sheets published?

Magde-who?
Reply to  rob
2 months ago

Yeah can’t wait to see martens drop a bomb at a random meet then go 2 seconds slower at worlds and for wellbrock to get passed by finke on the last 50 again.

Elon
2 months ago

bruh wtf 3 of top 6 2free world ranking is korean

Demarrit Steenbergen
2 months ago

4×200? I’m feeling like they can get down to 7:04 and perhaps challenge for a podium. Hawag can be 1:43, lee 1:45, Kim 1:46, and Yang and be 1:48-47 that could be 7:04. They can get close to podium or wain Asian games with this relay.

Elon
Reply to  Demarrit Steenbergen
2 months ago

yeah i think theyll def win asian games

lina
2 months ago

He seems to have a good relationship with Sunwoo, and the mutual promotion and harmonious relationship between teammates seems to be important for improving performance, which means Sunwoo may not feel lonely.But there’s a race today and we can look at the difference between Kim and Europeans after the races in 400.Good Job,team Korea.

DCSwim
2 months ago

Korea rising, watch this space

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