South Korean swimming star Kim Woo-min (Gangwon State Office) is challenging for a medal in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle for the second consecutive Asian Games.

Kim will kick off his individual events at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games tomorrow (the 22nd) with the men's 1,500-meter freestyle race at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Japan.

Among South Korean swimmers participating in this competition, Kim will step up to the starting blocks the most times.

He has set a plan to compete in six events: the 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1,500m freestyle, as well as the 400m and 800m freestyle relays.

It is iron stamina befitting a leading figure in South Korean swimming.

Starting his schedule today with the men's 800m freestyle relay, he will race in the men's 1,500m freestyle tomorrow, the men's 200m freestyle on the 23rd, the men's 800m freestyle and 400m freestyle relay on the coming 24th, and finally his main event, the 400m freestyle, on the coming 25th.

Kim, who won three gold medals in swimming at the Hangzhou Asian Games, claimed a silver medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle at that competition.

At the time, China's Fei Liwei won with a time of 14:55.47, while Kim touched the pad second, clocking in at 15:01.07.

While the 400m freestyle is a battle of explosive speed and stamina known as "speed endurance," the 1,500m freestyle is an "energy conservation" battle that requires strict pacing.

From breathing techniques to kicking styles, everything is completely different, making it a challenging feat to excel in both.

While Kim's personal best in the 1,500m freestyle has remained at 14:58.03 (certified by World Aquatics) recorded at the national swimming team trials in March 2024, powerhouse athletes from Japan and China have moved a step ahead.

Since the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, the top ranking in the Asian men's 1,500m freestyle belongs to Japan's Kazushi Imafuku with a time of 14:42.59 set this year, followed by Kaito Tabuchi of Japan at 14:45.57.

In addition, Chinese swimming rising star Zhang Ruofan clocked 14:47.24, and Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Fei Liwei recorded 14:49.30, forming the top tier.

All of them will be competing in these Asian Games.


In particular, Zhang Ruofan is a strong contender in Kim's main event, the 400m freestyle, meaning the two "Asian torpedoes" will face off early in the 1,500m freestyle.

Kim Jun-woo (Gangwon State Office) will also compete alongside Kim Woo-min in the 1,500m freestyle at this event.

Kim Jun-woo finished in 14:58.68 at a competition in Australia last year, coming within a second of Kim Woo-min's personal best.

The men's 400-meter medley relay is another event where a medal is targeted.

Having won the silver medal behind China at the Hangzhou Games, the men's 400m medley relay lineup for this competition has been set as Lee Ju-ho (Seogwipo City Hall, backstroke) to Choi Dong-yeol (Gangwon State Office, breaststroke) to Kim Young-beom (Gangwon State Office, butterfly) to Hwang Sun-woo (Gangwon State Office, freestyle).

In addition, Lee Eun-ji (Gangwon State Sports Council), a bronze medalist in the women's 200m backstroke at the Hangzhou Games, is issuing a challenge to Chinese athletes at this competition as well.

Kim Seung-won (Gyeonggi Physical Education High School), a rising star in South Korean women's backstroke, will also stand on the starting blocks alongside Lee.

Kim Min-seok (Jeonju City Hall) and Kim Min-seop (North Gyeongsang Sports Council) will compete in the men's 400-meter individual medley, while Han Da-kyung (Jeonbuk One Sports Club) and Kim Chae-yoon (Daejeon Physical Education High School) will take part in the women's 400-meter freestyle.

(Photo: Yonhap News)