Park Eyes Triple Gold
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Swimmer Park Tae-hwan is on pace to add to his medal count at the Beijing Summer Olympics, advancing to the final of the men's 200-meter freestyle Monday.
In the semifinals, the 18-year-old finished second at 1:45.99 behind American Peter Vanderkaay, who touched the pad first with a time of 1:45.76.
Michael Phelps of the United States, who is seeking to set an Olympic record by winning eight golds in Beijing, was the fourth fastest with 1:46.28.
Park, who won the gold in the 400-meter freestyle Sunday, also bettered his Asian record by 0.27 seconds.
Phelps, who won a bronze in Athens in 2004, is considered the biggest obstacle for Park in the event, though the American finished fourth in the semifinal after apparently not racing at full capacity.
The American, 23, holds the world record of 1:44.1 in the event set at the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, last year, a time he matched this year to top the season.
In addition, winning golds in the men's 400-meter individual medley and 400-meter freestyle relay puts Phelps in a position to break the record for most golds in a single Olympics. That mark is held by American swimmer Mark Spitz, who won seven in the 1972 Munich Games.
``I want to add another gold medal in the 200 meters, but I'm far behind Phelps in time and technique,'' Park said after the semifinals. ``He is a great athlete.''
``I really want to end his bid for eight golds, but I am an underdog to Phelps, who claimed eight medals in Athens and seven at the World Championships.''
``He is beyond me now but if given a chance, I want to overtake him at the London Olympics in 2012.''
Though he said he is no match for Phelps, Park could still pick up a medal in the event.
Last year, Park, who stands 1.82 meters tall, took bronze behind Phelps and Pieter van den Hoogenband in the event in his first world championship. Since then, Park has since improved his best time.
Park will also race in the 1,500-meter freestyle Friday, when he will again face his childhood hero Grant Hackett of Australia, whom he beat in Sunday's 400-meter race.
Park's chances for a 1,500-meter medal, however, are slimmer than in the 200 meters.
He has not swam a 1,500-meter race this year, and his coaches do not expect a medal.
His most recent performance in the distance was in Japan in August last year, with his time being 14:58.43.
Hackett, who finished sixth in the 400 meters, is eyeing a third straight Olympic gold in the 1,500 meters.
Along with Hackett, who set the world record of 14:34.56 in 2001, two-time Olympic silver medallist Erik Vendt of the United States, Vanderkaay and Mateusz Sawrymowicz of Poland can contend for the top spot.
Park will probably need to finish under 14:40 to earn a medal.