광주세계수영선수권대회를 빛낼 우리나라 수영 선수들<br /><br />A local swimming competition rich in history kicked off today in Gwangju.<br />It's made all the more meaningful as the city of lights will also play host to the 2019 World Aquatics Championship. <br />Our Won Jung-hwan is there to meet up with the stars set to shine bright.<br />Since its establishment in 1929, the Donga Swimming Competition has been producing top Korean swimmers like Jo O-ryeon, Choi Yun-hui, and Park Tae-hwan.<br />And for the fourth year in a row, the competition is being held at the country's swimming Mecca, Gwangju. <br />Here at Nambu University International Swimming Pool, one of world-class venues which will be used for the 2019 Gwangju World Aquatics Championships,... 1-thousand-400 athletes will compete in racing, diving, water polo, and artistic swimming events. <br />"The World Aquatics Championship is just less than 40 days away, and the organizers are using this competition as a dress rehearsal.<br />Korea's swimmers are doing the same,… fine-tuning their form ahead of the global event."<br />"The venues were under construction up until just a few days ago,... and I participated in today's competition because I wanted to see how the pool has changed,... and I wanted to test the water as much as possible before the Gwangju championship."<br />Kim Seo-yeong is one of Korea's best hopes for a medal. At last year's Asian Games, she won gold in the women's 200-meter individual medley, setting a new Korean and Asian Games record time. She also won silver in the 400-meter individual medley.<br />The 25-year-old said her goal in Gwangju is to break her own national record and even go for the world record. <br />"I was preparing for this upcoming championship since the Asian Games last year. Whether you see the time remaining is short or long,… I will get my fitness up step by step to get a good result in the end."<br />And Kim isn't the only swimmer who is dreaming of getting their name in the hall of fame. <br />Im Da-sol swam a personal best in the women's 100-meters back in April's national team draft competition. Her time of 1-minute-zero-seconds-44 was also a Korean record, and she says if she is at peak fitness, she will be aiming for a podium finish at the World Championship.<br />"As the championship is held right here in Gwangju, my goal is to quickly get used to the water. I still feel I lack many things but if I can strengthen my weaknesses through these practices, I think I can reach the medal range at the championship."<br />With the World Championship just around the corner,… fans here at the Donga Swimming Competition may just be getting a first look at some future world champions.<br />Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News, Gwangju. <br />
