Swim Phenom Will Compete in Relay

The hope of Korean swimming, Park Tae-hwan (17, Gyeonggi High School), is getting busy. He initially set a goal of winning three gold medals in the freestyle 200m, 400m and 1500m 24 years after Choi Yoon-hee did it at the New Delhi Asian Games in 1982. However, he adjusted his goal to win 4 medals with 100m freestyle, and eventually he decided to swim in the 400m and 800m relay as well. Now he is participating in 6 events.

Park won 5 medals in the 87th National Athletic Meet in October, swimming 10,000m daily in practice.

The Asian Games are also a type of training for Park, who’s is aiming for a gold medal in the Melbourne World Championships next year and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The reason Park is participating in the 400m relay is also to prepare for the 100m freestyle, as well as winning a medal.

Park won a gold medal in the 200m freestyle and a bronze medal in the 800m relay after joining the team unexpectedly. According to his plan, he will win additional gold medals in the 100m, 400m and 1500m freestyle and another bronze in the 400m relay. As a result, he will win 4 gold medals and 2 bronze medals.

“It’s not that burdensome for Park to join relay events, considering his daily training regimen of 16,000m. I thought it would help him prepare for his 100m freestyle,” said Roh Min-sang, the chief director of the team.

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