Korea’s Teen Machine Hwang Sunwoo Clocks World’s #1 100 Free Time

2022 KOREAN SWIMMING TRIALS

  • Thursday, March 24th – Monday, March 28th
  • Gimcheon Indoor Swimming Pool, Gimcheon, South Korea
  • LCM (50m)
  • Selection Meet for 2022 World Championships, World University Games, Asian Games
  • SwimSwam Preview
  • Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap
  • Results

Already inserting himself onto the top performers’ list for 2022 with his prelims swim yesterday, 18-year-old Hwang Sunwoo dropped more time en route to topping the mens’ 100m free podium at these Korean Trials.

Following up on his 48.69 from last night’s session, Hwang punched a mark of 48.42 to grab gold and notch his name onto the consideration roster for the 2022 FINA World Aquatic Championships in Budapest.

The two-time Olympic finalist and reigning 200m freestyle world champion opened in 23.17 and brought it home in 25.25 to handily defeat the field in the only sub-49 second outing.

With his 48.42 performance, Hwang now bumps himself up to the top of the world rankings for 2022, beating out British speedster Lewis Burras‘ 48.45 from earlier this month.

Top 5 Men’s LCM 100 Freestyle Performers for 2022

  1. Hwang Sunwoo (KOR), 48.42
  2. Lewis Burras (GBR), 48.45
  3. David Popovici (ROU), 48.50
  4. Katsuo Matsumoto (JPN), 48.57
  5. Alessandro Miressi (ITA), 48.84
  6. Maxime Grousset (FRA), 48.87

Hwang owns the Korean national record and Asian continental record in this event with the 47.56 he nailed in the semifinals at the 2020 Olympic Games. The teen ultimately placed 5th in the 100m (47.82) there in Tokyo.

The teen also took on the 200m freestyle prelim here in Gimcheon with just the womens’ 100m free final in between. Hwang landed lane 4 in a cool 1:48.72, setting himself up for another potential event win and Budapest-qualifying effort in tomorrow night’s final.

Hwang’s name is often mentioned alongside two other teenagers in the form of South Africa’s Matt Sates (18) and Romania’s David Popovici (17). The trio was among SwimSwam’s ‘stealthy six’ to watch for Paris 2024 based on promising performances and proven mettle alongside the big guns on big stages.

This week, Sates is competing as a Georgia Bulldog at the NCAA Championships, already taking the national title in the men’s 500y freestyle. Popovici clocked a 100m free time of 48.50 and a 200m free mark of 1:46.72 at the Romanian Trials, of which you can read more about here.

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Troyy
2 years ago

1:45.79 in the 200 final

Troyy
2 years ago
Awsi Dooger
2 years ago

I’m still howling at the post from a regular here in December, dismissing Hwang as only good during short course. It’s like everyone is so mesmerized by Popovici they refuse to acknowledge the challenges he faces from other youngsters. Hwang was a heck of a lot closer to the medals than Popovici in the Tokyo final, and he demonstrated urgency and change of acceleration in that final while Popovici in lane 2 was monotone.

Swimmerfromjapananduk
2 years ago

Raced Lewis burras the other day

monsterbasher
2 years ago

Interesting. I wonder if he’s fully tapered or not

PFA
Reply to  monsterbasher
2 years ago

probably not maybe did a quick drop taper for this meet and is saving it for trials or worlds

Grimes/Mcintosh combo is the future
Reply to  PFA
2 years ago

This meet is korean trials. So he’s saving for Worlds and Asian Games in September.

Mr Piano
Reply to  monsterbasher
2 years ago

Bro, his PB is a 47.5 lol.

monsterbasher
Reply to  Mr Piano
2 years ago

Duh I know what his times are, but he went 47 in Korean trials last year so i’m just curious what point of training he is leading up to this trials.

Last edited 2 years ago by monsterbasher

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Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just 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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