Men\s 800m Relay Becomes Top in Asia
[Asian Games] Men"s 800m Relay Becomes Top in Asia "Now it"s the Olympics and the World Championships"
Hwang Seon-woo "I shortened the record by nearly 15 seconds based on the Tokyo Olympics... Now I"m looking at the Olympics."
When Korean swimming presented the goal of "gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games" to the men"s 800m relay team, the members also tilted their heads and asked, "Is it possible?"
However, while training together, I became confident that “we can set a new Asian record and win the Asian Games.”
Hwang Sun-woo (20), Kim Woo-min (22), Yang Jae-hoon (25, Gangwon Provincial Office), and Lee Ho-jun (22, Daegu Metropolitan City Hall), who achieved the feat of winning the team event for the first time in Korean swimming history at the Hangzhou Asian Games, are now looking forward to the World Championships and Olympics.
The Korean national team won the men"s 800m relay final at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games swimming event held at the swimming pool at the Hangzhou Olympic Center in Zhejiang, China, on the 25th, setting a new Asian record of 7 minutes 01.73 seconds.
The previous record was 7 minutes 02.26 set by Japan at the 2009 Rome World Championships.
At that time, regulations on the shape and material of the swimsuits that produced new records were not in place, so the value of the record set by Korea that day is even greater.
The "Asian Games men"s 800m relay champions" who met after the awards ceremony looked back on the past with golden smiles.
Hwang Sun-woo said, “Based on the Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), we reduced our record by nearly 15 seconds,” and added, “Our men’s 800m relay team will move forward together with an eye on the Olympics and the World Championships.”
At the Tokyo Olympics, where Hwang Sun-woo, Kim Woo-min, Lee Ho-jun, and Yu-yeon Lee ran, Korea ranked 13th with a time of 7 minutes 15.03 seconds.
In two years, the Korean record was reduced by a whopping 13.30 seconds.
It was even more encouraging that records were shortened in major competitions such as the 2022 Budapest World Championships (7:06.93, 6th place) and the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships (7:04.07, 6th place).
In addition, he won the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, which was set as his most important goal in 2023.
Hwang Sun-woo, who was the last runner, said, "I am grateful to the people who supported me until late at night. I was happy and disappointed after winning the bronze medal (48.04 seconds) in the 100m freestyle yesterday (24th), but today I set a new Asian record with my members." “I’m even happier about winning.
I’m satisfied because the Korean swimming team seems to be gaining momentum,” he said.
Ho-Jun Lee
said, “This is the moment the four of us have dreamed of. The results were as good as our efforts.”
Sun-Woo Hwang and Ho-Jun Lee said whenever they had the opportunity before this competition, "Please look forward to the 800m relay. Our goal is to beat not only the Korean record but also the Asian record."
Hwang Seon-woo said, “I reduced the record that started at 7 minutes and 15 seconds to 7 minutes and 1 second,” and added, “I want to share my joy with the members today.”
Having worked together to achieve the feat of winning the team event, they are now looking to add medals in the individual event.
Sunwoo Hwang and Hojun Lee will attempt to win a medal with Korean athletes in the men"s 200m freestyle on the 27th.
Kim Woo-min, who is aiming to become the first Korean swimmer to win four Asian Games gold medals, will continue his golden run until the 1,500m freestyle on the 26th, the 800m freestyle on the 28th, and the 400m freestyle on the 29th (Kim Woo-min).
Kim Woo-min said, “The first start is good.
I can play the remaining games without any pressure,” and “I have gained confidence.”