By Yoon Chul
Korean swimming icon Park Tae-hwan will depart for Shanghai on July 18 from Brisbane, Australia for the 14th FINA World Championships.
Park’s sponsor team, SK Sports said Wednesday that the Beijing Olympic gold medalist will train in Brisbane, through July 17 and fly to China via Incheon International Airport.
It is one day later than originally expected.
Park’s side changed the plan because Park can only swim in the competition pool from July 19.
Park will be able to take orientation training at the Oriental Sports Center where the world championships will run from July 16 to 31.
Park will first compete in the men’s 400-meter freestyle on July 24. On the following two days he will take part in the 200-meter freestyle and swim in the 100-meter freestyle on July 27 and 28.
Park was in good form in his last outing.
At the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in California, he earned three gold medals including a victory against American great Michael Phelps in the 100-meter freestyle.
At the previous world championships in Rome, 2009, Park disappointed, failing to reach the final in all three events he entered, the 200-, 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle.