[K-wave] Korean swimmer Kim Young-beom announces intention to set world record at Singapore 2025

In K-sports Korea's swimming team declared its intention to break the world record in the mens 4x 200 freestyle relay ahead of the World Aquatics Championships 2025.

19-year-old new member, Kim Young-beom is raising the team's expectations.

Cha Yun-kyung reports.

The Korean national swimming team including Hwang Seon-woo and Kim Woo-min held a media day at the Champion House of Jincheon National Training Center ahead of the upcoming World Aquatics Championships 2025 in Singapore.

But 19-year-old Kim Young-beom, who joined the national team for the 4x 200 meter freestyle relay swimming, made the headlines by declaring his intention to set a world record at the upcoming world championship.

"Our goal is to reach the finals and win a medal in the 100-meter freestyle and set a new world record for 800-meter relay swimming."

Kim Young-beom, who is almost 2 meters tall, is expected to be a game changer for the national team as he recently beat swimmer Hwang Sun-woo in the 100-meter freestyle.

Kim also impressed in the 200-meter freestyle, with a time of 1 minute 46 seconds.

That is the reason why he is confident of setting a new record.

The national team is targeting a time of under seven minutes for the 4x 200, which is faster than the Asian record set at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, by setting Kim as the first swimmer.

"If Kim Young-beom makes it to 1 minute 45 seconds when he starts,.. we can possibly make it to the six-minute range."

Swimmer Kim Young-beom's ambitious declaration is getting attention.

The finals for 4x 200-meter relay swimming at the World Aquatics Championships 2025 takes place on August 1st.

Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.