[Anchor]

South Korean swimming star Hwang Sun-woo's bid for a second consecutive title in the men's 200m freestyle has fallen just short. He settled for the silver medal after finishing behind his rival, China's Zhang Zhanshuo, who clinched the gold with a new Asian record.

Reporting from Tokyo, here is Ha Seong-nyong.

[Reporter]

Competing alone in the 200m freestyle after Kim Woo-min withdrew due to a shoulder injury, Hwang advanced to the final with the second-fastest preliminary time overall. Taking a deep breath before stepping onto the starting blocks for the final, he poured everything into the early stages of the race in pursuit of becoming the first South Korean to win back-to-back 200m freestyle titles in 16 years, following Park Tae-hwan, SBS commentator.

Engaged in a fierce three-way battle with China's Zhang Zhanshuo and Japan's Murasawa, Hwang led the race through the 150-meter mark, but lacked the necessary stamina in the final stretch.

He was overtaken at the 170-meter mark by a surging Zhang Zhanshuo and ultimately touched the pad in second place with a time of 1 minute, 44.62 seconds.

Although his quest for consecutive gold medals narrowly slipped away, Hwang tipped his hat to Zhang—who shaved 0.43 seconds off Hwang's previous Asian record to take the win—showing respect to the victor as the two swimmers embraced and encouraged each other.

[Hwang Sun-woo / National Swimming Team : It's crazy.]

[Hwang Sun-woo / National Swimming Team : I think I really raced like my life was on the line. But once again, my final 50 meters seemed to fall apart a bit near the end, making me realize I still have a long way to go.]

Having won two gold medals at the Hangzhou Games, Hwang concluded his individual events this time with a bronze in the 100m freestyle and a silver in the 200m freestyle.

[Hwang Sun-woo / National Swimming Team : It should have been a gold medal, ah. It feels like I've now become the challenger who has to break the (Asian record) again, but I will always take on the challenge and train hard to reach the top spot and show you my best.]

His journey is far from over.

Hwang will channel his fighting spirit once more today (September 24) in the final event, the 400m freestyle relay.

Meanwhile, the mixed 400m medley relay team claimed the bronze medal with a new South Korean record.

Kim Young-beom, swimming the anchor leg, secured his fourth medal, while Kim Seung-won captured her third bronze following her success in the women's 50m and 100m backstroke.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Video by: Park Hyun-chul | Video Editing by: Oh Young-taek | Graphics by: Park Taeyoung)