[Asian Games] Lee Ju-ho Wins Silver with New Korean Record in 200m Backstroke

Silver Medal in 2nd Place Following China's Choi Kang Shiwaji
First Two Medals in Backstroke Individual Events in Korean Swimming History
Secured a Total of 4 Medals in This Competition

Lee Ju-ho (28, Seogwipo City Hall) won the silver medal with a new Korean record in the men's 200m backstroke at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. On the 29th, Lee finished second in the men's 200m backstroke final at the Olympic Sports Center Swimming Pool in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, with a time of 1:56.54. The gold medal went to Xu Jiayu (China), who touched the pad at 1:55.37, and the bronze medal was claimed by Takehara Hidekazu (Japan), who completed the race in 1:57.63.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Xu Jiayu swept the backstroke events at 50m, 100m, and 200m in this competition, achieving a triple crown. Lee Ju-ho placed third in the men's 100m backstroke at both the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang and the current Hangzhou Asian Games. In the previous games, he finished fifth in the 200m backstroke.

Lee Ju-ho ended the competition with a total of four medals: two individual medals (2nd place in 200m backstroke, 3rd place in 100m backstroke) and two team medals (2nd place in men's 400m medley relay, 3rd place in mixed 400m medley relay). He is the first Korean swimmer in history to win two or more medals in individual backstroke events at a single Asian Games. Lee said, "Our Korean backstroke swimmers are working really hard. We can't say we are on par with China and Japan yet, but we are catching up diligently," and added, "Please support our backstroke juniors."