Hangzhou Triple Gold Medalist Kim Woo-min Withdraws from 400m, Bringing Tearful Nagoya Campaign to an End

[Financial News] Kim Woo-min (Gangwon State Government), the star athlete leading the renaissance of South Korean swimming, is set to make a heartbreaking exit from the waters of Nagoya after giving an extraordinary effort while clutching his torn shoulder. His sacrifice as an ace who willingly dove into the water for his teammates despite excruciating pain moved fans deeply. However, a decision by the coaching staff to prevent his injury from worsening has forced him to abandon the remainder of the competition.
Korea Aquatics announced immediately after the men's 400m relay preliminary held at the Tokyo Aquatics Center in Tokyo, Japan, on the 24th that Kim Woo-min would be withdrawn from all remaining events in the broader interest of protecting the athlete. As a result, he will also miss the men's 400m freestyle, his main event, scheduled for the 25th.
Kim Woo-min's shoulder had been pushed beyond its limits for some time. Even before the competition began, he was carrying a serious injury involving partial tears to the rotator cuff and cartilage in his left shoulder. Only after enduring excruciating pain to finish eighth in the men's 1,500m freestyle final on the 22nd did his previously concealed condition become known, prompting widespread sympathy.

Nevertheless, Kim Woo-min refused to give up his place in the 400m relay preliminary on the morning of the 24th. Watching from the bench as his teammates struggled without their team ace would have been more painful than the physical pain itself. Swimming the opening leg, he completed his 100m split in 50.01 seconds. Inspired by his sacrifice, Ji Yu-chan, Lee Ho-joon and Kim Min-seop gave everything they had, helping the Korean team secure a place in the final with a fourth-place overall finish in 3 minutes, 19.55 seconds.
But Kim Woo-min's condition after emerging from the water was dire. His muscles could not generate proper force, and the pain surged uncontrollably, leaving even him bewildered. Despite suffering from crushing shoulder pain even when trying to sleep, his confession—"I pushed to compete because I couldn't just stand by and watch my teammates battling it out"—reflected his profound sense of responsibility as a national-team athlete.

Ultimately, Korea Aquatics and the coaches stepped in and pulled him from the competition. The Asian Games medal immediately within reach was important, but they firmly decided that he had to stop racing for the sake of preserving his long-term abilities and preparing for the upcoming Olympic stage.
After swallowing his tears and accepting his withdrawal, Kim Woo-min now turns his attention to the relay final he will be unable to compete in. Although his injury has forced him to step aside, he expressed steadfast faith in his team, saying he was certain that his remaining teammates would erase his regret and sense of injustice with an explosive performance.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter