After lengthy struggle, veteran swimmer An Se-hyeon falls back in love with her sport

JINCHEN, South Korea -- Veteran swimmer An Se-hyeon, 30, has rediscovered her passion for her sport after a prolonged struggle. Once a top contender in the 200m and 100m butterfly events, An briefly faded into the background as the South Korean swimming team flourished internationally. At the 2017 World Championships, she achieved her best ranking, securing the fourth place in the women's 200m butterfly.

This record still stands as the highest placed by a South Korean female swimmer at the competition. Additionally, she set a national record with a time of 57.07 seconds in the 100m butterfly, which has yet to be challenged.

The past few years, however, were challenging for An. As she grew older and her team began to excel, she felt increasingly sidelined. She contemplated leaving the sport altogether but ultimately decided to persevere. With unwavering support from her national team staff, An returned to competitive swimming. Acknowledging the mental toll of her hiatus, An emphasized the importance of emotional support in maintaining a balance between her physical capabilities and her desire to compete.

An shared her struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, stating that time and a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic helped her regain her love for swimming. Despite not being at the peak of her previous performance, she is determined not to repeat her past mistakes. Rather than aiming for past glory, An wishes to demonstrate her current abilities and inspire younger swimmers. She hopes her performance at the Asian Games will leave a lasting impact, demonstrating her growth and dedication to the sport.