Kim Seo-young (23 years old), from the KIU sports department, who is a representative star for the Korean women’s swimming, won her spurs and was selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 97thKoreanNationalSportsFestivalwhichwasheldonThursday,October13th.

Kim Seo-young who also belongs to the Gyungbuk Provincial Swimming T,eam set four new Korean records, winning three gold medals in the 800 meter free style relay, 200 and 400 meter individual medley and winning one silver medal in the 400 meter free style relay. Furthermore, it lead to her being named the MVP, beating out prominent Olympic stars such as Jin Jong-Oh from the men’s shooting and Park Tae-hwan from men’s swimming.

Kim said, “I am glad and satisfied with these results, as I have prepared hard for this competition since the Rio Olympics which left me with more challenges. She added that,” Even though I have set new records in the 200 and 400 meter medley in Jeju at the National Sports Festival in 2014, it is my first time to break a record even in the team competition. I feel very happy“.

This year, as a member of Korean national Swimming Team, Kim consecutively participated in the Rio Olympics since the London Olympics in 2012. Having recorded a time of 2 minutes 11 seconds to 75. in the 200 meter individual medley preliminary which is not only her main event, but also arecord was tied with the Korean record, where Kim reached the semi-finals. However, unfortunately she could not reach the final.

After completing her competition in Rio the Olympic, she did reveal her strong ambitions, saying that, “As I did my best, I have no regrets. In the next Olympics, I will go to the finals of my two individual medley events.” Her aspiration came true in the national sports festival this year and this is brightening the prospect for the next Olympics.

For athletes like Kim who are planning to leave for Osaka at the beginning of next month for  spring training, Kim Kyung-oh, the professor of KIU sports department and who has taught and encouraged her since she entered KIU, emphasized, “Based on the records and self-confidence from the national sports festival this year, please try your utmost for 2020 Tokyo olympics.”