Lee Ju-ho sets new Korean record in men's 200m backstroke

Swimmers compete in a men's 200-meter backstroke heat at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Wednesday evening. [AP/YONHAP]

Olympic swimmer Lee Ju-ho set a new Korean record in the men's 200-meter backstroke on Wednesday evening, beating his own record.

Lee finished second in the second heat on Wednesday evening with a time of 1:56.77, beating his own record of 1:57.06 set at the national team selection event last year. Lee finished 2.14 seconds behind Luke Greenbank of Great Britain.

Lee's was the second Korean record to fall on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Hwang Sun-woo set a new Asian record in the men's 100-meter freestyle, recording a time of 47.56 seconds to become the first-ever Korean to reach the final of the event.

Lee will now advance to the semifinal at 11 a.m. on Thursday. The top eight racers from the semifinal will advance to the final. If Lee is one of them, he will be the first Korean ever to reach the final in any backstroke event.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]