Swimmer Kim Woo-min avoids surgery on injured shoulder, set for rehab

Seoul, October 12 (Yonhap) -- Olympic swimming champion Kim Woo-min will not require surgery on his left shoulder, his agency announced on Monday, as he prepares for the upcoming world championships. The 25-year-old had undergone tests following the recent Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where he competed despite a partially torn labrum and rotator cuff injury in his shoulder.

Doctors determined that surgery was not necessary, and Kim will now undergo regular testing every two or three weeks as he progresses through rehabilitation and low-intensity training. The swimmer, a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist in the men's 400-meter freestyle event and three-time gold medalist from the 2023 Asian Games, had continued competing through the injury during the men's 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2023 Asian Games and helped South Korea secure a bronze medal on September 21.

However, Kim's shoulder issues worsened in the men's 1,500m final on September 22, leading to his withdrawal from most events following the final. Despite this setback, Kim still managed to win the 2024 world title in the 400m freestyle and claimed bronze in the same race in 2025. With the 2027 Olympic competition set for June in Budapest, Kim is on track to be ready to compete for his third individual medal.

South Korean swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo, who is 19 years old, emerged as a formidable competitor in the 2027 event, winning all seven gold medals, including both the 400m and 800m freestyle golds, and setting Asian Games record times in both events.