'Swimming star' Kim Seo-yeong wins 11th straight title; Hwang Sun-woo's bid for six titles ends in disqualification [National Sports Festival roundup]

[Financial News] Kim Seo-yeong (Gyeongbuk Provincial Government), the leading star of Korean swimming, set a record by winning her 11th consecutive title in the 200m individual medley at the National Sports Festival. In contrast, men's swimming ace Hwang Sun-woo (Gangwon Provincial Government) was disqualified and fell short of his goal of winning six titles.
In the women's general division 200m individual medley final at the 107th National Sports Festival, held on the 20th at the swimming pool in Jeju Sports Complex in Jeju City, Kim Seo-yeong took first place in 2:13.15, claiming her 11th consecutive title in the event. She went on to team up with her Gyeongbuk Provincial Government teammates to win the 400m freestyle relay, earning her third title of the Games. Through All That Sports, Kim said, "I'm happy to have put behind me the disappointment of not being able to compete at the 2026 Asian Games and to have achieved good results."

In men's swimming, Hwang Sun-woo had a roller-coaster ride. He touched the pad first in the men's general division 200m individual medley final but was disqualified for an illegal kicking motion during the breaststroke leg. As a result, the individual medley gold went to Yang Seok-hyeon (Daegu City Hall), and Hwang's goal of winning six titles at the Games was dashed. However, Hwang teamed up with his Gangwon Provincial Government teammates to win the 400m freestyle relay held the same day, earning his third title of the Games. He will pursue additional gold medals in the remaining 400m mixed medley relay and 400m medley relay.

In the women's freestyle, Ha Da-kyung (Jeonbuk One Sports Club) won the 400m final in 4:09.23, setting a Korean record and claiming her second title. She improved the previous Korean record by 0.42 seconds, marking the first Korean record in swimming at these Games. In the men's 400m freestyle, Kim Jun-woo (Gangwon Provincial Government) took first place to claim his third title of the Games.
Multiple-title wins and valuable records also poured in across other events. In modern pentathlon, men's and women's standouts Seo Chang-wan (Jeonnam Provincial Government) and Seong Seung-min (Korea National Sport University) each led their team to gold in the four-event relay, bringing their tally to three titles apiece.
In the men's general division 400m relay, a showdown between former Asian Games national team members ended with Chungnam, anchored by Seo Min-jun, beating the team featuring Biewesa Daniel Gasama by 0.11 seconds to take the win. In the women's under-18 10km race walk, Kwon Seo-rin (Chunghyeon High School) set a Korean high school women's record of 47:44.

In combat sports, wrestling legend Kim Hyun-woo (Bucheon City Hall) defeated a rival ten years his junior in the men's general division Greco-Roman 82kg final, extending his remarkable record of winning every National Sports Festival he has competed in since high school. In men's sabre fencing, the 'Avengers' team member Oh Sang-uk (Daejeon Metropolitan City Hall) led his team to a 45-36 victory and into the final, putting himself within reach of his second title of the Games. In men's recurve archery, Kim Je-deok (Yecheon County Office) also advanced through the individual semifinals to secure a place in the gold-medal match.


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