From Zero Expectations to 5-Gold Legend: The Pivotal Moment That Upended Korean Swimming

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, opening on the 19th, are now eight days away.

Back in the 1980s, there was a swimming star who earned the affectionate nickname "Asia's Mermaid" by capturing a total of five gold medals on the Asian Games stage. That star was Choi Yoon-hee.

She is hailed as a legend of Korean swimming, having claimed five gold medals in swimming events at the Asian Games alone. 

(Produced by SBS Digital News | Reported by Yang Hyun-yi | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Lee Su-min)



※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.