Park Takes 400 Gold in Swimming World Cup

By Kim Tong-hyung

Staff Reporter

South Korean swimming sensation Park Tae-hwan topped the men's 400-meter freestyle competition in the fifth meet of the 2007 FINA (International Swimming Federation) World Cup Wednesday in Stockholm, Sweden.

The 17-year-old was never seriously challenged in the race, comfortably winning in 3 minutes, 42.14 seconds, marking his second victory of the series after taking the 400 gold in Sydney, Australia, earlier this month, when he swam faster at 3:39.44.

``It was a solidarity race, and I was way ahead of my competitors. That didn't help me reduce my time,'' said Park, who also said his vision was bothered with his new swimming goggles failing to keep water away from the eyes.

Australia's Nicholas Sprenger came in second at 3:44.25, followed by Denmark's Mads Glaesner at 3:45.21.

The world record of 3:34.58 is held by Australia's Grant Hackett, who is considered as Park's top rival heading into next year's Beijing Olympics.

Park will compete in the 1,500 freestyle finals today.

The swimming world cup series, which started last month in Durban, South Africa, and toured through Singapore, Sydney, Moscow and Stockholm, will move to Berlin Saturday and finish with a competition on Nov. 24 and 25 in Brazil's Belo Horizonte.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr