Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-sup (left), who served as the chairman of the Organizing Committee for the FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019, on July 28 hands the FINA flag over to FINA President Julio Maglione (right) in the tournament's closing ceremony at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center. (Yonhap News)
By Kim Minji
The FINA World Championships on July 28 ended with the closing ceremony held at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center in the southwestern city of Gwangju.
Under the slogan "Dive into Peace," the hosting of the world's top aquatic sports competition sought to promote Gwangju as a sports city and spread its spirit of democracy, human rights and peace.
The championships this year were also known as a low-cost, high-efficiency affair, with most of the competition venues are existing gymnasiums where water tanks have been installed; they will be torn down after the tournament. The athletes' village was also built through the reconstruction of older apartments and will be privately sold in lots.
Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-sup, who concurrently served as chairman of the Organizing Committee of the FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019, said, "FINA recognized the Gwangju championships as the most successful competition in its history."
"A record-high 7,500 athletes from 194 countries participated in the competition. World records were set and a new history of swimming was made."
Lilly King of the U.S. (center) on July 28 poses with her gold medal in the 50-meter breaststroke at the FINA World Aquatics Championships next to silver medalist Benedetta Pilato of Italy (left) and bronze winner Yuliya Efimova of Russia (right) at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center in Gwangju. (FINA World Championships organizing committee)
The Gwangju event saw the highest number of countries compete in the tournament's history, as well as the setting of eight world and 15 championships records. For example, Adam Peaty of Britain bested his own world record in the 100-meter breaststroke semifinals and Kristof Milak of Hungary set a world record in the 200-meter butterfly. In the women's 400-meter freestyle, Ariarne Titmus of Australia upset three-time defending world champion Katie Ledecky of the U.S.
An especially popular event was high diving, whose competition played to sellout crowds at Chosun University Football Field. The women's water polo team made history for Korea by scoring its first goal in a world championship in a 30-1 loss to Russia, eliciting hugs and tears of joy among the players.
China finished the Gwangju championships at the top of the medal table with 16 golds, 11 silvers and three bronzes, followed by the U.S. with 15, 11 and 10 and Russia with 12, 11 and seven, respectively.
The water sports action is far from over in Gwangju, however, as the city will host the FINA World Masters Championships from Aug. 5-18.
kimmj7725@korea.kr