CLOSING OF FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

[Anchor Lead]

The FINA World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju have come to a close. The tournament served to show the way forward for Korean swimming. We have the details.

[Pkg]

Audiences applaud the passionate performances showcased by swimmers from around the world. The flag of the FINA World Championships in Gwangju has now been handed over to the next host city, Fukuoka, Japan. The event was filled with emotional triumphs and has ended after a 17-day run. US swimmer Caeleb Dressel who won six gold medals in Gwangju and Sweden's 50 meter butterfly champion Sarah Sjöström turned out to be the event's biggest stars. Future hope as well as lingering tasks for Korean swimming were made evident through the championships. Kim Su-ji won a surprise bronze medal in diving while the Korean women's water polo team impressed many with their tenacity to score goals, though not many, against strong global teams. But there were less happy moments such as when Kim Seo-yeong was the only finalist in the individual medley.

[Soundbite] KIM SEO-YEONG(NATIONAL SWIMMING TEAM) : "The result was somewhat disappointing but I will work harder to repay all the support I received."

Korea has long lacked a global reputation in swimming, but hosting these championships has boosted public interest and this momentum needs to be continued.

[Soundbite] LEE YONG-SUP(CHAMPIONSHIPS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE PRESIDENT) : "Following the tournament, efforts will continue to develop Korea and Gwangju into a swimming powerhouse."

The Gwangju event was the largest to date but popularity wise, it could have been better partly due to a lack of star Korean athletes. How these challenges can be addressed ahead of next year's Tokyo Summer Olympics remains to be seen.