(Asian Games) Nat'l swimming record holder trying to overcome self in bid for multiple medals

JAKARTA, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- In her bid to win multiple medals at the Asian Games here, South Korean swimmer An Se-hyeon says she won't look too far for challenges.

She just wants to overcome herself.

An is scheduled to compete in three butterfly races: the 50, 100 and 200 meters. The 22-year-old owns the national records in all three distances, and she said her primary goal is to reach the podium in every one of them.

"And if I do reach the podium, I want to be able to feel satisfied and proud, rather than be embarrassed," An said after her practice at GBK Aquatic Center Thursday, two days before the opening ceremony. "And I want to overcome myself once again."

An believes she did just that at the world championships last year in Hungary, where she broke national records in the 100m and 200m fly while recording top-five finishes in both.

She has had some ups and downs since. Though An easily won the national team trials for the Asian Games, she didn't come close to matching her own national records.

"After the world championships, I had high expectations for myself, and I trained extra hard to live up to them," she said. "But so far this season, I haven't had an event where things felt right for me."

An said there was no point in trying to avoid pressure, adding, "I've decided the best I can do is to keep putting in the work and let my results to do the talking."

She may have the best shot at winning a gold medal in the 200m fly. Her national record time is 2:06.07, and she owns the second-fastest time among Asian swimmers this season at 2:08.42. Sachi Mochida of Japan has the top Asian mark this year at 2:07.66.

"I've been training for the 200m fly with a lot of confidence since the last world championships," An said. "I think I am ready to go for it."

In the 50m and 100m butterfly, Japanese teen sensation Rikako Ikee is the big favorite. She owns the world's fastest 100m fly time this year at 56.08 seconds, and has the second-best 50m time at 25.11.

An's personal best in the 50m fly is 26.30 seconds, and it's 57.07 in the 100m fly.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)