For South Korea, the host country of the ongoing FINA World Championships, Kim Su-ji's bronze medal in the women's 1m springboard diving on Saturday meant more than just the numeral "1" on the medal table.

South Korean diver Kim Su-ji holds up her bronze medal from the women's 1m springboard event at the 18th FINA World Championships at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on July 13, 2019. (Yonhap)

Thanks to Kim's out-of-the-blue medal in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, South Korea avoided the ignominy of being shut out of the medal race as the host nation. It took care of business on the first day of full competition after Friday's opening ceremony.

FINA's top competition began in 1973, and this is the 18th edition. Only three host countries have failed to get on the board: Colombia in 1975, Ecuador in 1982 and Spain in 1986. (Yonhap)

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