(LEAD) (Asiad) Park Si-eun claims silver in women's breaststroke swimming
(ATTN: ADDS details in para 2, comments from para 5; CHANGES photo)
By Yoo Jee-ho
TOKYO, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Park Si-eun grabbed a surprising silver medal in the women's 200-meter breaststroke swimming at the Asian Games on Thursday.
Park finished with a new national record time of 2:22.69 at Tokyo Aquatics Centre, just 0.12 second back of the champion from Japan, Kotomi Kato.
Swimming in Lane 5, Park led Kato by 0.72 second at the 150m mark, but Park came home in 37.41 seconds, compared to 36.57 seconds by the Japanese.
Zhu Leiju of China got the bronze in 2:25.51.
Park Si-eun of South Korea reacts after winning silver in the women's 200-meter breaststroke swimming event at the Asian Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on Sept. 24, 2026. (Yonhap)
Park, 19, said she was inspired to take up swimming after watching highlights of former swimmer Jeong Da-rae, who won the 2010 Asiad gold in the women's 200m breaststroke. Jeong remains the only South Korean with an Asian Games title in this event.
"I have trained so hard, not taking any day off even when my friends were enjoying their time away from the pool," Park said, choking back on tears. "I really wanted to do well here and all that time spent in the pool was worth it."
Park said she is now motivated to reach even greater heights.
Park Si-eun of South Korea competes in the women's 200-meter breaststroke swimming final at the Asian Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on Sept. 24, 2026. (Yonhap)
"I came here trying to win a gold medal and I fell just short," Park said. "This has given me a new target to shoot for and I don't think I can afford to rest. I will try to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics (in 2028) and reach the podium there, too."
Though Park let Kato pass her over the late stretch, the South Korean teenager said she felt confident in the work she put in to improve her endurance.
"I cannot even begin to describe how much training I have done. I don't think I can ever work that hard again," Park said. "I have analyzed other swimmers over the years and they have all tended to get their stroke rates up early on. I decided I will try to do the opposite and make sure I have enough left in the tank late in races."
Park, one of the national team's youngest members, thanked her veteran teammates for helping her get through rigorous training.
"When I am feeling down, they are always around me to cheer me up," Park said with a smile. "Training has been hard but I have never felt lonely."
Park Si-eun of South Korea reacts after winning silver in the women's 200-meter breaststroke swimming event at the Asian Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on Sept. 24, 2026. (Yonhap)
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