"Korea, China and Japan Within Two Seconds" ... Korea's Golden Generation of Swimmers Set to Defend Its Crown [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] In the men's 800-meter freestyle relay, the gap between Korea, China and Japan is only around two seconds. Korea's 'golden generation' of swimmers, which reached the top of Asia at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, will seek to fend off China's and Japan's fierce pursuit and retain the crown this time. Ji Yu-chan in the men's 50-meter freestyle and Korea's men's 800-meter freestyle relay team will each aim to win a second consecutive Asian Games title.
Korea's swimming team will begin its full-scale gold-medal campaign on the second day of swimming competition at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will be held on the 21st at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Japan.
The first contender is Ji Yu-chan, known as 'Asia's top torpedo.' Ji Yu-chan will compete in the men's 50-meter freestyle alongside Youngbeom Kim. After winning gold in 21.72 seconds at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, Ji is seeking to defend his title at this year's event.
The race for the fastest time has become even more intense. Ji Yu-chan set a Korean record of 21.66 seconds at last year's World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Since the Hangzhou Asian Games, at World Aquatics-sanctioned meets in this event, Japan's Shuya Matsumoto has recorded 21.64 seconds, Ji Yu-chan 21.66 seconds and Hong Kong's Ho Ian Yantou 21.71 seconds. The gap between first and third place is just 0.07 seconds.
The biggest showdown will come in the men's 800-meter freestyle relay. With Kim Woo-min, Hwang Sun-woo and Lee Ho-joon still in the lineup, newcomer Youngbeom Kim has joined the team as it seeks to retain Asia's throne.
Korea won gold in Hangzhou with a time of 7:01.73, which was then an Asian record. But China and Japan have mounted a fierce challenge over the past three years. China set a time of 7:00.91 at last year's World Aquatics Championships, breaking Korea's Asian record, while Japan has also lowered its time into the 7:02 range.
China is in the 7:00 range, Korea in the 7:01 range and Japan in the 7:02 range. With the three countries separated by only around two seconds, even one swimmer's condition or a single touch could determine which medal they win. A fiercely contested race is expected.
Hwang Sun-woo said, "Japan has posted a time in the 7:02 range in the 800-meter freestyle relay, while China has recorded a time in the 7:00 range. We posted a time in the 7:01 range in Hangzhou." He added, "The three countries are within two seconds of one another. The condition on the day and the chemistry among the relay members will be important."
Kim Woo-min, for his part, described Korea as the 'challenger.' He said, "China and Japan have improved, so we are the underdogs. You never know what will happen once we face them. I want to compete with a challenger's mindset."
Medal challenges will continue in other events as well. Korea's record holder Yoon Ji-hwan and Lee Ju-ho will compete in the men's 50-meter backstroke, while record holder Seungwon Kim and Lee Eun-ji will race in the women's 50-meter backstroke. In the men's 100-meter breaststroke, Korean record holders Choi Dongyeol and Cho Sung-jae will aim for the podium. Lee Song-eun and Lee Hee-eun will compete in the women's 200-meter individual medley, while Jo Hyun-ju and Heo Yeon-gyeong will race in the women's 200-meter freestyle.
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