Korea has yet to win more than two medals in swimming at any single Olympics. Swimmers set to compete in Paris this summer believe they can top that total.
Led by a pair of reigning world champions in Hwang Sun-woo and Kim Woo-min, the national swimming team departed for France on Tuesday.
Hwang, the men’s 200-meter freestyle world champion, and Kim, who won his first world title in the men’s 400m freestyle this year, are regarded as two medal contenders. They will also team up in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.
Head coach Lee Jung-hun said the goal is to bring home three medals.
“Our athletes have gone through grueling training to reach this point,” Lee told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. “If they can avoid injuries, I think we have a few athletes who can stand on the podium.”
Lee has been careful not to publicly state any numerical target for his team, lest that he put extra pressure on them. But he raised three fingers when asked by photographers to 스포츠 indicate how many medals he felt Korea could win.
Park Tae-hwan remains the lone Korean swimmer with an Olympic medal. In 2008, he won the gold in the men’s 400m freestyle and added silver in the 200m freestyle. Four years later, Park won silver medals in both events.
Kim could become the first Korean Olympic swimming champion since Park. The 400m freestyle final is scheduled for July 27, the first day of swimming competition.
“I’ve read articles that had me finish in third place. It’d be nice just to be on the podium but I’d love to reach the very top,” Kim said. “Ever since I started swimming, my dream has always been to win an Olympic gold.”