Korean Swimmers Criticize No-Medal Rule for Asian Games Relay Heats

South Korean swimmers have criticized a decision at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games not to give physical medals to athletes who competed only in the preliminary heats of medal-winning relay events. The athletes remain officially recorded as medalists but will receive digital certificates instead.

The issue came to wider attention after Kim Min-seop won bronze in the men's 200-meter butterfly on Friday. It was his third medal result of the competition, but the first for which he received a physical medal. Kim had also raced in the heats of the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay and 4x200-meter freestyle relay, events in which South Korea went on to win silver and bronze, respectively. He did not swim in either final.

Kim said he was disappointed that his contributions in the morning races would not be recognized with medals he could keep. He added that the individual bronze at least gave him something tangible to show his parents.

The Korea Swimming Federation confirmed that the organizers would not issue medals to swimmers whose relay participation was limited to the heats. A notice provided to competitors said no medals would be awarded for preliminary rounds and that digital certificates would be sent to each team leader after the competition. It also said no additional physical medals or certificates would be distributed at the venue.

The policy departs from established practice at many major international swimming competitions, where every swimmer who helps a relay team advance and ultimately reach the podium is typically awarded a medal. Relay squads frequently use different lineups in the heats and finals, resting leading swimmers for the evening session while other team members secure qualification in the morning.

An Se-hyeon, part of the South Korean team that won bronze in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay, said the policy failed to recognize the shared nature of the achievement. An competed in the final but credited the swimmers in the heats with making the medal possible. She said all members had worked toward the same objective and described limiting medals to the final lineup as unfair.

The dispute has turned what is normally a routine medal procedure into a question of how multi-stage team events should recognize contributors. For the affected South Korean swimmers, the official record will show their podium finishes, but the absence of a physical medal has sharpened concern that their role in earning those results is being treated differently from that of their teammates.