{
  "id": 8909426,
  "title": "[Asian Games] Swimming champion determined to keep pursuing bigger goals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/asian-games-swimming-champion-determined-to-keep-pursuing-bigger-goals",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T11:47:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260921/asian-games-swimming-champion-determined-to-keep-pursuing-bigger-goals"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tokyo — During a nine-minute post-race interview following his first Asian Games gold medal win on Monday, swimmer Kim Young-beom, the men's 50-meter freestyle champion, held the trophy close to his chest in disbelief. \"Man, this thing is so heavy,\" Kim commented, nearly choking on his words. \"I might get a neck spasm.\" He continued, \"I thought I'd feel it when I put it around my neck. I still can't believe this gold medal is mine.\" The historic moment was marked by the playing of the national anthem in a large arena to congratulate the swimmer, a feeling he described as \"incredible.\" Even after seeing his name on the board instantly after the race, Kim did not believe he had won. His title-winning performance at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre also defied expectations - he set an Asian record of 21.66 seconds, just hours after establishing another record of 21.71 seconds in the heats. Breaking records in the heats is uncommon as athletes typically reserve their best performances for the finals later in the day. Breaking one's own record within the same day is even rarer. Ahead of the final, Kim's sole focus was to replicate the same swimming technique he had employed in the heats.",
  "summary": "TOKYO — Throughout his nine-minute interview after winning his first Asian Games gold medal on Monday, swimmer Kim Young-beom, the men's 50-meter freestyle champion, kept touching and cradling the prize around his neck, so incredulous was he that he had captured it. \"Man, this thing is so heavy. I might get a neck spasm,\" Kim cracked. \"I thought it would hit me once I put it around my neck. I…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "title": "Suchika Tariyal didn't lose; India appealed, but 700g cost her Asian Games final",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/suchika-tariyal-didnt-lose-india-appealed-but-700g-cost-her-asian",
        "published": "2026-09-21T09:06:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "From refugee camp to Asian Games, Syrian taekwondo duo fight for their dreams",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/from-refugee-camp-to-asian-games-syrian-taekwondo-duo-fight-for-their",
        "published": "2026-09-21T09:53:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Malaysian riders safe as typhoon disrupts Asian Games schedule",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/malaysian-riders-safe-as-typhoon-disrupts-asian-games-schedule",
        "published": "2026-09-21T10:52:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(Asiad) N. Korean supporters dominate atmosphere at inter-Korean football match at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/asiad-n-korean-supporters-dominate-atmosphere-at-inter-korean",
        "published": "2026-09-21T11:10:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Syrian duo make history with Asian Games refugee team",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/syrian-duo-make-history-with-asian-games-refugee-team",
        "published": "2026-09-21T11:28:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "[Asian Games] S. Korea, N. Korea draw 1-1 in women's football at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/asian-games-s-korea-n-korea-draw-1-1-in-womens-football-at-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-09-21T11:47:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}