Korean diver Kim Su-ji speaks throughout a press convention with the nationwide swimming group for the Asian Video games on the Jincheon Nationwide Coaching Heart in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, Tuesday. Yonhap
JINCHEON — Korean diver Kim Su-ji has gained nothing however bronze medals in her Asian Video games profession — one in 2018 and two extra in 2023.
The 28-year-old would love some medals of a unique shade at this yr’s competitors in Japan.
“Clearly, I all the time need to win gold medals, as a result of I’ve gained sufficient bronze medals already,” Kim stated Tuesday at a joint nationwide swimming group press convention on the Jincheon Nationwide Coaching Heart in Jincheon, 85 kilometers south of Seoul. “I would like to have the ability to benefit from the competitors, too.”
On the 2023 Asian Video games, Kim gained bronze within the synchronized 3-meter springboard occasion with Park Ha-reum. This time, Kim has a brand new accomplice within the 22-year-old Kim Na-hyun.
“My applications have had excessive levels of issue and previously, I needed to decrease these ranges to slot in with my companions. However now, I lastly have somebody who can carry out at my degree,” Kim Su-ji stated. “For this reason I anticipate some sturdy outcomes this time.”
To win gold, Kim and her new accomplice should finish decades-long dominance by China, who has swept each diving gold medal at each Asian Video games since 1974.
Kim Su-ji stated constructing a great private connection away from the pool has been key in her new partnership.
“I’ve all the time accomplished effectively after I received together with my companions exterior the sector,” she stated. “I attempt to deal with Na-hyun as an equal, not only a junior teammate, and speak to her as a lot as I can.”
Korean diver Kim Yeong-nam speaks throughout a press convention with the nationwide swimming group for the Asian Video games on the Jincheon Nationwide Coaching Heart in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, Tuesday. Yonhap
Kim Yeong-nam can also be hungry for his first Asian Video games gold medal, having beforehand gained 4 silver medals and one bronze medal throughout the previous three competitions.
He gained back-to-back silver medals within the synchronized 10m platform occasion in 2018 and 2023.
This time, Kim will enter the 1m springboard.
“I hope I will goal gold, not simply silver, in my occasion,” Kim stated.
Kim will likely be competing with out his longtime sidekick Woo Haram, who’s fulfilling his obligatory navy service. The 2 mixed for the 2018 silver medal within the 10m platform occasion.
“I did my navy service a bit of earlier than he did, and I hope there’ll come a day once we will likely be reunited right here on the coaching heart,” Kim stated.
