Hwang Seon-woo, the 'hope of Korean swimming', will participate in the World Aquatics Championships for the second time in a row.



Hwang Seon-woo finished first in the men's 100m freestyle final of the KB Financial Korea Swimming Championship, which was held in the 2022 national management and diving competition at the Gimcheon Indoor Pool in Gyeongsangbuk-do, with a record of 48.42 seconds.



He did not reach the Asian record of 47.56 seconds, which he set in the semifinals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held last year, but he had a smooth race in the first competition of the new year, which he participated in during training.



He was over a second faster than the second-placed reason kite with a time of 49.45.



It's still early in the season, so there weren't many competitions, but this year's International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Ranking 1 record.



Hwang Seon-woo took first place in the preliminary round with a time of 48.69 and advanced to the final.



This competition is also the debut stage for Hwang Seon-woo, who graduated from Seoul Chego High School this year and made a fresh start in Gangwon-do.



Hwang Seon-woo won the gold medal and also acquired the right to compete in the 100m freestyle at the 2022 FINA World Aquatics Championships, which will open in Budapest, Hungary in June.



Hwang Seon-woo passed the A standard record (48 seconds 77) required by FINA early.



Hwang Seon-woo will participate in the World Championships held on the Olympic-standard 50m course for the second time in a row following the 2019 Gwangju Games.



However, this is the first time that he will participate in an individual event since he only participated as a member of the men's 800m relay, a team event at the Gwangju Games.



At the short course (25m) World Championships, he participated for the first time in the event held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in December last year, and won the first major event in the 200m freestyle with a record of 1:41.60.



Hwang Seon-woo took first place in the previous 200m freestyle qualifier with a record of 1:48.77 and will stand at the starting platform for the final on the afternoon of the 27th.



He will compete in the 50m freestyle event on the 28th, the last day of the competition.



The Korea Swimming Federation is planning to select the national team for the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou after recommending the top athlete in each event to the Korea Sports Association.



(Photo = Yonhap News)