(LEAD) (Olympics) Teen swimmer Hwang Sun-woo finishes 7th in men's 200m freestyle

All News 12:22 July 27, 2021

(ATTN: ADDS details, photos)
By Yoo Jee-ho

TOKYO, July 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean teen swimmer Hwang Sun-woo ranked seventh in the men's 200m freestyle event of the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, the best performance by a South Korean swimmer in nine years.

The 18-year-old was in the lead after the first 150 meters before losing steam and finishing second from last at 1:45.26 at Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Hwang Sun-woo of South Korea begins the men's 200m freestyle swimming final at the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 27, 2021. (Yonhap)

Tom Dean of Britain won the gold medal in 1:44.22, 0.04 ahead of fellow Briton Duncan Scott. Fernando Scheffer got the bronze in 1:44.66.

Hwang had won the heats Sunday with a new national record time of 1:44.62. Then in Monday's semifinals, Hwang posted 1:45.53 to become the first South Korean swimmer since Park Tae-hwan in 2012 to reach an Olympic swimming final.

The 18-year-old went right back at it Tuesday and looked to be in position for at least a medal until he ran out of gas in the final stretch.

Hwang Sun-woo of South Korea competes in the men's 200m freestyle swimming final at the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 27, 2021. (Yonhap)

Swimming in Lane 7, Hwang had the fastest reaction time with 0.58 second and reached the 50m mark in 23.95. He then touched the 100m pad in 49.78 seconds. He was the only one of the eight finalists to cover the first 100m in under 50 seconds.

Hwang stayed in the lead at the 150m point with 1:16.56. But Dean, who was in third at the 150m turn, kicked into high gear over the final stretch to snatch the gold medal.

Scott jumped from fourth at the 150m mark to win the silver medal.

Hwang Sun-woo of South Korea jumps into the pool at the start of the men's 200m freestyle swimming final at the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 27, 2021. (Yonhap)

Dean's final 50m split was 26.84, while Hwang came home in 28.70, his worst split of the race and also the slowest among all finalists.

Park remains the only South Korean to win Olympic swimming medals. Park won gold in the 400m free and silver in the 200m free in 2008 and then picked up silver in both events four years later.

Park also raced at the 2016 Olympics but didn't make any finals then.