South Korea’s Hwang Sunwoo made history on several levels this year but the 20-year-old freestyle ace is already eyeing more accolades come 2024.
When earning 200m freestyle bronze this year in Fukuoka, he became the first swimmer from his nation to land on a podium at back-to-back World Championships. He took silver in the same event at the 2022 edition in Budapest.
Then at the Asian Games last month, Hwang captured a perfect 6-for-6 podium result for his event program, falling just one medal shy of Park Tae Hwan‘s record of earning the most-ever at a Games.
Finally, Hwang took home the MVP honor from the Korean National Sport Festival which took place earlier this month. Despite suffering from food poisoning early on in the competition, he became the first man to earn the MVP award 3 years in a row.
Despite the hectic schedule, Hwang reportedly took just 5 days off before getting back in the pool. The Korean National Team Trials are slated for November.
Reflecting on his recent state, Hwang said, “I was completely gassed after the National Sports Festival. And over the past five days, I managed to gain some weight back and add muscle too. I enjoyed my time off, and I am back healthy now.” (Yonhap)
Looking ahead, Hwang commented, “It’s difficult to win a medal at the worlds, and at the Olympics, you have to be good and also be lucky at the same time.
“But luck will only find people who are prepared. And I want to be one of those people in Paris. I believe hard work won’t betray me. All I can do is to keep working.
“I am worried that I haven’t been able to shed too much off my record over the past year,” Hwang said. “But once you get over the hump, you can shatter records in swimming. That’s what makes this sport so great. I will try to get into the 1:43 range next year.” (Yonhap)
Hwang said his goal is to join Park in becoming just the 2nd Korean to ever reach a swimming podium at an Olympic Games.
Throw me to the pack, and I’ll come back leading the wolves.
“It’s difficult to win a medal at the worlds, and at the Olympics, you have to be good and also be lucky at the same time.
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He’s right.
Just ask Cate Campbell, Cameron mcEvoy, and James Magnussen.
I never thought of those three missing gold as bad luck.
Cate Campbell was the dominant 100m freestyle swimmer for 3 years prior to 2016, and went low 52’s more than any other swimmer before. The dual gold medallists at Olympics won in 52.70. Cate swam a WR a few months prior (52.06) and could only manage a 53.2 in the Olympic final. You could call missing a taper, an overtraining injury or fatigue, or just a stuff up as bad luck.
Cate’s 52.06 was at a training meet (Australian Grand Prix) a month before. She also swam 23.84 in the 50 at trials so maybe she missed taper
HOWEVER, she swam 52.7 in Rio’s heats and semis so her 53.2 was definitely her choking
She admitted choking and having the mental game to deliver in the big moments is one of the most important aspects of this sport and not just a matter of luck.
I remember an interview where she said she thought she flinched at the blocks. So throughout the race she though it is a DQ.
Sjostrom, the queen of sprint free and butterfly for so long, and often considered by people to be the second best female swimmer, has a single Olympic gold to her name. It’s why I feel Inge De Brujin deserves more credit for her 4
I didn’t actually believe you when I read this until I double checked it. Thats absolutely crazy. 3 medals in Rio, I don’t know what happened to her in 2012 but I guess I just assumed she did well there because I knew she had a crazy breakout in 2009, but yea she didn’t even medal there. and 2020(1) she had that broken elbow. She’s just been so dominant that it completely slipped my mind that she hasn’t had great Olympic history
And even Inge “missed” (e.g. her 100 fly in 2004 when her semis time would have won the Gold in the final). It’s a special athlete who can consistently delver at those key moments..
Went 1.44.9 as a junior so tipping he has more in him. Very strong, gets quite high in the water.
1.44.62 actually
Modest but targeting
Class