Park Tae-hwan misses podium in final race

Korean swimming star Park Tae-hwan finished fourth in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle race Saturday, missing the podium in his third and final race at the London Olympics.

Park touched the pad at 14 minutes and 50.61 seconds. Sun Yang of China broke his own world record by more than three seconds at 14:31.02 to win the gold medal.

Park won silver medals in both the 200ｍ and 400ｍ freestyle here. He was trying to become the first South Korean to win three medals at a single Summer Olympics.

Sun was second behind Park after 50ｍ, but then charged in front after 100ｍ and never lost his lead the rest of the way. Park stayed back of Sun in second place before slipping to third behind Ryan Cochrane of Canada at the halfway mark. The South Korean fell another spot with 500ｍ left, as Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia got past him.

Park's personal best in 1,500ｍ remains 14:47.38, which he set earlier this year. He has raced 1,500ｍ finals in two Asian Games but never before at an Olympics.

After the race, Park said he was "relieved" to have completed his second Olympics.

"I was fatigued after about 1,000ｍ," he said. "I am disappointed I couldn't win a medal, but I did my best and had a better time than in the heat yesterday."

Park has had an eventful stay in London. On July 28, he was initially disqualified from the 400ｍ free for a false start in his heat,

before officials overturned the ruling just hours before the final later the same day. The 2008 Olympic 400ｍ champion ended up with a silver behind Sun.

"I'd be lying if I said I don't have any regrets from that day," Park said. "But I still won a very meaningful medal, thanks to support and encouragement from a lot of people. I am taking away precious memories from this year's Olympics." (LONDON=Yonhap)