NANTERRE, FRANCE — South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-min successfully advanced to the final of the men's 400-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics, overcoming a challenging heat on Saturday to place seventh overall.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim clocked 3:45.52 at the Paris La Defense Arena, securing his place in the final by a narrow margin. The final is set for 8:42 p.m. local time, which translates to 3:42 a.m. Sunday in South Korea. Kim, the current world champion in the 400m freestyle, aims to add an Olympic medal to his accolades, following in the footsteps of Park Tae-hwan, the only other South Korean swimmer to win an Olympic medal in swimming.
During his heat, Kim showed a strong start, leading the first 100 meters but fell behind as the race progressed. Brazilian swimmer Guilherme Costa eventually took the lead, winning the heat with a time of 3:44.23. Kim struggled in the latter part of the race, especially in the final 50 meters, where his split time was only the sixth fastest in his heat.
Kim expressed surprise at his own performance, noting his unexpected difficulty in the morning heat. "I didn't slow down to pace myself. I usually tend to struggle in heats held in the morning of competitions," he stated, reflecting on his preparation and execution. Despite the less-than-ideal finish, Kim remained hopeful for the final, emphasizing his stronger performance in afternoon races and the unpredictable nature of the competition.
As he prepares for the final, Kim is focused on leveraging his strengths and experiences to improve his standings and possibly clinch the gold, inspired by the historical success of his compatriot, Park, who previously triumphed in the same event.