Park Sets 100M National Record, Sweeps Five Golds
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
South Korean swimming sensation Park Tae-hwan claimed a national record in the men's 100-meter freestyle at the National Sports Festival Saturday as he remained in top form ahead of next year's Beijing Olympics.
In the competition held at Gwangju's Yeomju Swimming Pool, the 17-year-old won the 100 gold in a time of 49.32 seconds, breaking his own Korean record of 50.02 seconds set at the Doha Asian Games last year.
Park's recent mark inches him closer to the world record of 47.84 seconds set by Dutch swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the Asian record of 48.91 seconds held by Japan's Hisayoshi Sato.
Park has won five medals so far in the National Sports Festival, as he also finished on top in the 200 freestyle, 4x100 freestyle relay, 4x100 mixed relay and the 4x200 freestyle relay.
Park's impressive performance in the 100 freestyle proves he is continuing to widen his game as he prepares for Olympic glory. In recent years, Park had established himself as one of the world's top freestyle swimmers in the 400 and 1,500, but his talent for short-distance events is a new discovery.
Park had shown impressive form this year as he shapes up for the big show in Beijing, beating Australian rival Grant Hackett in the 400 freestyle by nearly a second at the International Swim Meet in Narashino, Japan, in August.