(Asiad) Teenager overcomes nerves to grab 1st medal in pool

TOKYO, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- At the tender age of 16, South Korean swimmer Kim Seung-won made her Asian Games debut in front of thousands of fans at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Monday, and possibly way more butterflies in her stomach.

As the teenager blew a kiss toward the broadcast camera before her women's 50-meter backstroke races -- heats in the morning and the final in the afternoon -- Kim looked entirely at ease. But after winning bronze medal, Kim revealed she was a nervous wreck.

"I'd be lying if I said I was not nervous and I was just trying to shake off those jitters," Kim said of the pre-race gesture. "But I tend to swim well if I enjoy myself and have fun in the water. So that is what I was trying to do."

Kim said she appreciated having an opportunity to showcase her talent in front of an international audience.

"I have more races left, and I will prepare for them the best I can," Kim said. "Young or old, everyone has been really working hard toward this competition, and it was great to see them all give their best."

Before the Asian Games, Kim said her goal was to win a medal in the 50m backstroke and set a world junior record. Kim only accomplished the first part of that equation, as she clocked 27.72 seconds Monday, 0.23 shy of the world junior record held by Minna Atherton of Australia.

"I have touched that record in training, and I felt confident I could break it in competition," Kim said. "I think this means maybe I did not work nearly enough. I will have to try harder."

Kim said the swimming world may only have gotten a glimpse of what she can do.

"I have spent more time training for the 100m backstroke than the 50m," she said of her next race. "I am looking forward to the 100m here."