Yoon Ji-hwan breaks Korean 50m men’s backstroke record after six years

High school backstroke hopeful Yoon Ji-hwan (Gangwon Cheonggo) broke the Korean record in the men's 50-meter backstroke for the first time in six years.

Yoon touched the touchpad in 24.87 seconds to win the 50-meter backstroke final in the boys' high school swimming management category at the 38th National Sports High School Games held at Munsusil Indoor Swimming Pool in Ulsan on Friday.

It is a new Korean record.

Yoon shaved 0.06 seconds off the previous Korean record of 24.93 set by Kang Ji-seok when he won bronze in the men's 50m backstroke final at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.

Born in January 2006, Yoon, who is 190 centimeters tall, weighs 85 kilograms and has a two-meter wingspan, has the right physique for the short distance, winning the national trials in November last year with a personal best of 24.96 seconds to qualify for the 2024 World Championships in Doha.

At the World Championships in Doha, Yoon advanced to the semifinals after qualifying in the heats and finished 16th in the semifinals.

At the KB Financial Korea Swimming Championships, 바카라사이트 a part of the 2024 Management National Team Trials, held last week, he finished second behind Lee Joo-ho (Seogwipo City Hall), just missing out on a gold medal.

After the race, Yoon said through the Korean Swimming Federation, "I have no regrets because I did my best at the 2024 National Team Trials. I've been trying to break the Korean record since the World Junior Swimming Championships in September last year, but I was disappointed that I fell short each time. However, I promised myself that I would do my best when I was given the next opportunity, and I finally broke it."

Yoon Ji-hwan, who will receive a reward of KRW 1 million for breaking the Korean record for the first time in his life, said, "Since I moved to the Jincheon National Athletes' Village in November last year, I have learned a lot from watching my older brothers who train with me, how they take care of their bodies and how they are diligent in training every day. Thanks to them, I was able to set a new Korean record," he said, adding, "I would like to treat my brothers to a meal as a reward."

"My weakness among sprinters was my start, but I am grateful to my sister Park Han-byul for giving me a lot of tips on what to improve when we train together in the athletes' village, and to coach Kim Hyo-yeol for giving me detailed feedback," said Yoon.