South Korean swimmer Hwang Sun-woo trains at Paris La Defense Arena in Paris on July 23, 2024, in preparation for the Paris Olympics. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
PARIS, Jul. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — After training in their competition venue for the first time, two of South Korea’s top swimming medal contenders at the Paris Olympics came away feeling good about their prospects.
Freestylers Kim Woo-min and Hwang Sun-woo joined their teammates at Paris La Defense Arena in Paris on Tuesday. The swimming team had been in Paris since July 16 and had first trained at a local Korean camp, named “Team Korea Paris Platform,” about 60 kilometers south of Paris in Fontainebleau. The swimmers then checked into the athletes’ village Monday, but with Paris La Defense Arena not open to athletes until Tuesday, they worked out at another training venue, Aulnay-sous-Bois Aquatics Centre in Paris, on Monday.
The swimmers finally got their first taste of Paris La Defense Arena for two sessions Tuesday — one each in the morning and the afternoon.
Kim, who will compete in the men’s 400-meter freestyle, got his work done in the training pool and only saw the main competition pool. But that didn’t lessen his excitement about the upcoming race.
“I did see the main pool and took some photos this morning,” Kim said. “After seeing this place firsthand, I have this feeling that everything I do will go pretty well here.”
According to the Korea Swimming Federation, Kim was limited to the training pool because he wasn’t allowed to use his fins in the main pool.
“Honestly, I’d love to jump into the main pool now,” said Kim, who is scheduled to have two more sessions at La Defense Arena on Thursday. “I think I will have at least one opportunity to do that before competition.”
Kim is the reigning world champion in the 400m freestyle and is expected to cruise into the final in Paris. The 400m freestyle final is scheduled for Saturday evening and will be the first medal race in the entire swimming competition of this Olympics.
South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-min trains at Aulnay-sous-Bois Aquatics Centre in Paris on July 22, 2024, ahead of the Paris Olympics. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
In Tokyo three years ago, Kim, then weeks away from his 20th birthday, was a member of the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team that finished 13th in the heats. He has since evolved into one of the very best in the 400m freestyle, who will also give South Korea a strong shot at a medal in the relay.
“It’s an honor to have this opportunity to show people what I’ve worked on over the past three years,” Kim said. “I think I will be extremely happy once this Olympics is finished. I am honored to represent South Korea.”
Hwang Sun-woo was on the same relay team in Tokyo. Unlike Kim, Hwang also entered individual races in Tokyo, reaching the finals in the 100m and 200m freestyle events.
In Paris, the goal isn’t merely reaching the finals. Hwang is the current world champion in the 200m freestyle and is regarded as a strong medal threat in Paris.
Hwang even got his first glimpse of the medal podium inside La Defense Arena during his training session.
“It was right behind the main pool. I thought to myself, ‘I’ll try to go up there,’” Hwang said.
When asked if he considered standing on the podium just for fun, Hwang said, “I’d rather be there with something around my neck.”
Hwang marveled at the size of the arena and said he enjoys competing in big venues.
“Now that I’ve seen this arena, I can’t wait to get started,” Hwang said. “Physically, I am feeling incredible. I feel like I am off to a great start. I just want to maintain this feeling.”
(Yonhap)
