By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Alice Hong from Canada
Photos = Alice Hong

When I decided to go to Gwangju to see the World Aquatics Championships, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew that the tournament was an international event featuring water sports, but I'd never been to Gwangju before. A kind receptionist at the Korea Tourism Organization helped me prepare for my trip.

It was sweltering hot when I arrived in Gwangju on July 22. You could hardly tell that a typhoon called Danas was passing through the southern region of Korea, as the sky remained calm, albeit cloudy. I rushed to catch the men's high diving preliminaries at Chosun University.


None of the competitors were from Korea or my home country of Canada, but I was still honored to be there. Several of the high divers were newcomers, while others were major names in the sport. Gary Hunt of the U.K. and Steve LoBue of the U.S. were among those competing.

High diving is an extreme sport based on precision and skill. To hit the water safely after falling from a height of 27 meters requires training with a professional for a minimum of two years. Seeing each of the 22 contestants do spins and somersaults in the blink of an eye was simply incredible. They looked just like superheroes in Speedos.


Though Korea's greatest swimmer, 2008 Olympic gold medalist Park Tae-hwan, was absent during this competition, many people came by to watch including first lady Kim Jung-sook. At the Aquatics Center in Nambu University, three time Olympic champion Sun Yang of China claimed the gold in the 200m freestyle.

Evening festivities were featured at May 18 Democracy Square, with an outdoor concert featuring singers and dancers. I didn't recognize any of the performers there but it was great to see Gwangju residents and foreign visitors enjoy the city's leisurely vibe together.


As the host city for an event with the participation of 7,500 athletes from 193 countries, I could tell Gwangju was making a big effort to move forward under the tournament's slogan "Dive into Peace."

The World Aquatics Championships ran from July 12- 28 and will be followed by the FINA World Masters Championships from Aug. 5-18. Though what I saw during my stay in Gwangju was just a small portion of the championships, my experience there made the trip well worth it.

wisdom117@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. This group has members from all around the world who share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.