Doha, Qatar, February 15, 2024: Asia’s sole representative in the high diving competition at the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 has performed admirably representing Korea.
But Choi Byung-hwa now needs some help from the corporate world if he is to maintain his improvement.
With high diving not an Olympic sport, he is at the back of the queue for funding from the Korea Swimming Federation.
He works hard himself in Seoul, teaching swimming, water safety and first aid to fund his training and competition, but he knows it is not enough to allow him to train and compete overseas on a regular basis.
“You know in my country there are no diving facilities and actually I have not enough budget for the international high dive training, so that’s my problem,” he said, after completing his four-dive schedule at Doha Old Port on Thursday.
“I need more hard training to adjust the falling speed of the athlete at the last moment, just right before the entry. That’s what I need.
“I have to make many money and talk with many Korean companies, so I need some kind of sponsorship in order to go abroad for more training and height.”
Choi finished in 23rd place of the 25 divers who went on to perform in the third and fourth dives from the 27m platform with a score of 217.30 – a huge increase from the 130.50 points he scored on his world championships debut in Fukuoka in 2023. A total of 27 divers started the competition.
“I am super happy with my performance,” Choi said.
“I know I need some more training and experience, but for now I am really happy to finish my competition with safety and with good dives. So, I am really satisfied and really huge happy, I feel.”
With the next world championships in Singapore in 2025, Choi will concentrate on his take-off in particular during his training schedule. But where that training will take place is not sure at this moment.
If Korea is out of the question, he lists Montreal, Austria and Fort Lauderdale in the United States as his best three options – but it all depends on his funding.
Asked how his performance had improved in Doha compared to Fukuoka last July, he replied: “I feel just a tiny bit more confident than the first competition so I can perform just a little bit more how I thought.
“It is a tiny bit more but, for me, it is a huge step, so I feel a little bit more confident.”
Now 32, Choi feels he can carry on for five or six more years, even up until he reaches 40 years old, as his life in general has benefited from the discipline of high diving and training.
“I eat clean food only and I sleep well – I take care of everything about my condition,” he said.
