For the first time, both seniors and juniors, Korean swimmers have become the world record holders of the International Swimming Federation (FINA).
Hwang Sun-woo, an 18-year-old high school student who emerged as the hope of swimming in Korea, is the main character of the new history.
According to the Korea Swimming Federation, FINA sent a letter to the Federation the day before, saying,'We have reviewed the supporting documents related to Hwang Seon-woo's men's freestyle 200m record' and that'we will officially recognize it as the World Junior Record as of the 26th.'
FINA added that'official certificates are sent by mail.'
The Korean Swimming Federation plans to deliver the certificate to Hwang Sun-woo once it is received.
Hwang Sun-woo won the men's freestyle 200m final at the 2020 National Management Team Competition held at the Gimcheon indoor swimming pool on November 19 last year with a record of 1 minute 45 seconds 92.
Although Park Tae-hwan did not reach the Korean record of 1:44:80 when he won the gold medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games in November 2010, it was a world junior record.
This is a 0.21 second cut from the previous record of 1 minute 46 seconds 13 from Australia's Elijah Winnington at the 18-year-old McDonald's Queensland Championships in December 2018.
The federation subsequently submitted a request for record authorization to FINA with the necessary documents, such as a confirmation of the negative doping test result.
FINA finally delivered the official news to the federation after two months of establishing the record, and at the same time added Hwang Seon-woo's name as a long course (50m) men's 200m world junior record holder on the website.
With FINA's official recognition, Hwang Sun-woo became the first Korean swimmer to hold the world junior record.
To motivate prospects, FINA has compiled and managed world junior records for male and female swimmers under the age of 18 since March 2014.
(Photo = Yonhap News)