SwimmerSouth KoreanFreestyleOlympic medalist

Kim Woo-min

김우민은 2024 파리 올림픽 동메달리스트이자 2024 도하 세계선수권 금메달리스트인 한국의 대표 수영 선수입니다.

1. Early Life and Education

Kim Woo-min was born on August 24, 2001, in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, South Korea. His early education took place in Busan, where he attended Jungni Elementary School. He continued his athletic and academic development at Busan Physical Education Middle School and later Busan Physical Education High School, institutions known for fostering sports talent. His upbringing in a city with a strong connection to the sea likely played a role in his early engagement with swimming.

2. Career Beginnings

Kim Woo-min's career as a national swimmer began in 2019 when he was first selected for the South Korean national team. His debut on the international stage came in July of the same year at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships held in Gwangju, South Korea. At this event, he competed in multiple freestyle events, finishing 31st in the 800m freestyle, 28th in the 1500m freestyle, and 11th in the 400m freestyle.

Later in November 2019, Kim participated in the 2019 FINA Swimming World Cup in Kazan, Russia. In this competition, he achieved his first international medal, securing a bronze in the 1500m freestyle, finishing behind Russia's Ilya Druzhinin and Yaroslav Potapov. He also placed 11th in the 400m freestyle.

In July 2021, Kim made his Olympic Games debut, representing South Korea at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He competed in the men's 4 × 200m freestyle relay alongside teammates Lee Yoo-yeon, Hwang Sun-woo, and Lee Ho-jun. The team recorded a time of 7:15.03 in their heat, finishing 7th in their preliminary group and not advancing to the final.

3. Major International Achievements

Kim Woo-min has achieved significant success across various major international swimming competitions, earning multiple medals and setting records.

3.1. Olympic Games

Kim Woo-min's Olympic journey began at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where he participated in the men's 4 × 200m freestyle relay. The South Korean team, including Kim, finished 7th in their heat with a time of 7:15.03, not qualifying for the final.

His most significant Olympic achievement came at the 2024 Paris Olympics. On July 27, 2024, Kim won the bronze medal in the men's 400m freestyle event with a time of 3:42.50. He finished behind Lukas Märtens of Germany and Elijah Winnington of Australia. This historic medal made him the second South Korean swimmer, after Park Tae-hwan, to win an Olympic medal in swimming, marking a significant milestone for Korean aquatics. He also competed in the men's 200m freestyle, reaching the semi-finals with a time of 1:46.58, and participated in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay, where the team recorded 7:07.26 in the heats.

3.2. World Aquatics Championships

Kim Woo-min made his World Aquatics Championships debut at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. He continued to compete in subsequent championships, demonstrating consistent improvement.

At the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Kim notably reached the final of the men's 4x200m freestyle relay alongside teammates Lee Yoo-yeon, Hwang Sun-woo, and Lee Ho-jun. This marked the first time in South Korean swimming history that a relay team advanced to a World Championships final, where they ultimately finished 6th. Individually, he placed 6th in the 400m freestyle, 14th in the 800m freestyle, and 12th in the 1500m freestyle.

In July 2023, at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Kim continued to impress. He finished 5th in the 400m freestyle with a time of 3:43.92. In the 800m freestyle, he set a new South Korean national record of 7:47.69, placing 14th. He also contributed to the men's 4x200m freestyle relay team (with Hwang Sun-woo, Yang Jae-hoon, and Lee Ho-jun), which again reached the final and finished 6th, matching their previous year's performance.

His most significant achievement at the World Aquatics Championships came in February 2024 at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Kim Woo-min won the gold medal in the men's 400m freestyle with a time of 3:42.71, surpassing Australia's Elijah Winnington and Germany's Lukas Märtens. This victory made him only the second South Korean swimmer, after Park Tae-hwan, to win a gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships. He also secured a silver medal as part of the men's 4x200m freestyle relay team at the same event.

3.3. Asian Games

Kim Woo-min was a standout performer at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, which were held in September 2023 due to a postponement. He achieved a remarkable triple gold medal haul and one silver medal, setting multiple records in the process.

On September 25, 2023, he contributed to the men's 4x200m freestyle relay team (with Yang Jae-hoon, Lee Ho-jun, and Hwang Sun-woo) that won the gold medal with a time of 7:01.73, setting a new Asian record and Asian Games record.
He followed this by winning a silver medal in the 1500m freestyle with a time of 15:01.07, finishing behind Fei Liwei of China.
In the 800m freestyle, Kim secured his second gold medal, clocking 7:46.03. This performance not only earned him the gold but also established a new Asian Games record and a new South Korean national record, defeating Fei Liwei and Nguyễn Huy Hoàng of Vietnam.
Finally, in the 400m freestyle, he claimed his third gold medal with a time of 3:44.36, triumphing over Pan Zhanle of China and Nguyễn Huy Hoàng. His three gold medals at a single Asian Games made him only the second South Korean swimmer, after Park Tae-hwan in 2010, to achieve such a feat.

3.4. World Aquatics World Cups

Kim Woo-min has participated in several World Aquatics World Cup events, securing early international medals. In November 2019, he earned his first international medal, a bronze in the 1500m freestyle, at the 2019 FINA Swimming World Cup in Kazan, Russia. In October 2021, he competed at the 2021 FINA Swimming World Cup in Doha, Qatar, where he won his first international gold medal in the 1500m freestyle, overcoming Kalmár Ákos of Hungary and his teammate Lee Ho-jun. He also secured a silver medal in the 400m individual medley, finishing behind Japan's Seto Daiya, and placed 8th in the 200m backstroke.

3.5. World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m)

Kim has also competed in short course (25m pool) championships. In December 2021, he participated in the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he finished 19th in the 1500m freestyle. He also set national records in the 4x100m freestyle relay (3:16.48) and 4x50m freestyle relay (1:28.56) during the heats.

In December 2022, Kim competed at the 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Melbourne, Australia. He placed 9th in both the 400m and 1500m freestyle events, 12th in the 800m freestyle, and contributed to the men's 4x200m freestyle relay team (with Hwang Sun-woo, Lee Ho-jun, and Yang Jae-hoon) that finished 4th, setting a personal best for the team.

4. Domestic Competitions and National Records

Kim Woo-min has consistently performed well in domestic competitions, including the Korean National Trials and the Korean National Sports Festival, where he has also set several national records.

He has achieved notable results in various freestyle distances at these events, often serving as a qualifier for international competitions. His performances in national trials demonstrate his consistent form and progression.

Key national records achieved by Kim Woo-min include:

  • Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay: 3:16.48, set on December 16, 2021, at the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2021.
  • Men's 4x50m Freestyle Relay: 1:28.56, set on December 19, 2021, at the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2021.
  • Men's 800m Freestyle: 7:47.69, set on July 25, 2023, at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka. This record was further improved to 7:46.03 on September 28, 2023, at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, which also became an Asian Games record.
  • Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay: 7:01.73, set on September 25, 2023, at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, which also became an Asian record and Asian Games record.

These records highlight his individual prowess in long-distance freestyle and his crucial role in South Korea's relay teams.

5. Recognition and Impact

Kim Woo-min in 2023, during the 2022 Asian Games.
Kim Woo-min in 2023, during the 2022 Asian Games.

Kim Woo-min's remarkable achievements have significantly elevated his standing in Korean swimming history. As only the second South Korean swimmer, after the legendary Park Tae-hwan, to achieve both an Olympic medal and a World Championship gold, he has broken new ground for the sport in the nation. His triple gold medal performance at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games further solidified his reputation as a dominant force in Asian swimming.

His success has made him a national icon, celebrated for his dedication and perseverance. Kim's journey from a promising young talent to an Olympic medalist and World Champion serves as a powerful inspiration for aspiring athletes across South Korea. He embodies the potential for Korean swimmers to compete and succeed at the highest international levels, fostering increased interest and participation in the sport. His contributions have not only brought national pride but also played a crucial role in the development and visibility of swimming within South Korea.