Kim Woo-min focuses on stamina for 2026 Asian Games

South Korean swimming star Kim Woo-min is pushing his body to its limits in preparation for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, aiming for multiple gold medals. The 25-year-old athlete is currently engaged in a high-intensity physical training regimen that he believes is crucial for future success.

Kim's grueling schedule includes 30 minutes of cycling before diving into two-hour swimming sessions, twice a day. On his most demanding days, he repeats the 50-meter long course sprint dozens of times, covering a distance of about 16 kilometers. This intense regimen is a deliberate strategy, as Kim stated, "If I struggle a lot now, I can smile at the Asian Games."

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If I struggle a lot now, I can smile at the Asian Games.

His dedication stems from his remarkable performance at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, where he secured gold medals in the 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, and the 4x800m freestyle relay. Kim is the first South Korean swimmer to achieve three golds at a single Asian Games since 2010. He is focused on building his stamina, seeing it as his primary weapon in competition, rather than relying solely on technique.

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Rather than technique, I will compete with stamina.