Hwang Sun-woo (20-Gangwon Provincial Office) was recognized as the future of South Korean swimming after his fearless backstroke at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the age of 18, and now he’s an iconic figure in the sport. He hasn’t just improved his technique, but also his ability to run a race through a variety of experiences .His gold medal in the men’s 200-meter freestyle at the World Championships was the result of his seasoned race management .After returning home from the 2024 International Swimming Federation World Championships in Doha, Qatar, on July 19, Hwang told a press conference at Incheon International Airport, “In Tokyo, I overpaced without knowing anything. “This time, Luke Hobson (USA) set a huge pace in the 150-meter section, and I didn’t follow him, but I sputtered at the end and took first place. “Hwang finished first overall in the 200-meter freestyle preliminaries in 1:44.62, a new Korean record and world junior record. However, he finished seventh in the semifinals in 1:45.53 and the final in 1:45.26, both lower than his qualifying times. This was the result of swimming with no pace distribution in mind.
But the Doha World Championships were different. While Hobson took the lead in the 100-150 meters, Hwang ran his own race without faltering. After conserving his energy, Hwang fired on all cylinders in the final 50 meters and was the first to touch the touchpad. Hwang took first place in 1:44.75, followed by Danas Rabsis (LTL) in 1:45.05 and Hobson in 1:45.26.Hwang said: “I have competed in many major competitions over the past two years and gained experience. This gold medal in Doha is a result of the good foundation I have laid so far,” said Hwang .True to his word, after Tokyo, Hwang won a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest and a bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka .This year, he won gold in Doha, completing his dream ‘gold, silver, bronze’.
“I really wanted to win a gold medal,” says Hwang. “I feel like I have the trifecta by winning gold in Doha,” he said. With the Paris Games just five months away, Hwang is aiming to win two medals in the 200-meter freestyle and 800-meter freestyle relay, especially in the 800-meter freestyle relay, where he swam a 1:43.76 200-meter leg of the silver medal team. In relays, only the first swimmer to start counts as an official time, and Hwang swam the backstroke as the fourth swimmer in Doha, which was crucial to the silver medal. Hwang holds the Korean record in the 200-meter freestyle at 1:44.40. As the first leg of the medley relay to break into the ‘1:43s’, he gave the green light for a new Korean record. “My best time was 1:43,” said Hwang. Thanks to coach Jeon Jeon-hyun and the trainer who trained with my teammates,” said Hwang. “This record has brightened my outlook in preparing for the Paris Olympics. 온라인카지노 I promised to show a good performance in Paris.”