 Park Tae-hwan, seen in this file photo taken on Nov. 17, 2010 during the Guangzhou Asian Games, will compete in the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter freestyle at the ongoing FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China. / Korea Times file |
By Yoon Chul
Korean swimming star Park Tae-hwan is looking to set a new world record at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China.
“As I have trained very hard, I believe that I can achieve the deserved results. If I do as I have done in training, I expect better results than just a gold medal (a new world record),” Park said.
The Olympic gold medalist arrived in Shanghai Monday with bright expectations.
Though he implied he was capable of setting a new world record he appeared full of confidence rather than arrogant.
Australian international swimmer Ryan Napoleon recently supported Park’s ability a day ago in an interview with The Telegraph.
“I think the standard of racing in the 400 will be really high,” Napolean said. “My training partner Park Tae-hwan is going to be a bigger threat than Sun Yang, the two of them will be getting times up under the world record.”
The world record for the men’s 400-meter freestyle is three minutes 40.07 seconds set by Paul Biedermann in a super-suit in 2009. Without the aid of high-technology swimsuits, Ian Thorpe had the fastest time of 3:40.08 in 2002.
Park set both a personal and Korean best at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, clocking in at 3:41.53.
The 20-year-old has good memories not only of China but also Shanghai.
It was in the same city in 2006 that Park won in the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle at the World Short Course Championships. It was the first such success for a Korean in an international swimming competition.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Park topped podium in the 400 meters and took silver in the 200 behind swimming great Michael Phelps.
Two years later in Guangzhou, Park grabbed three gold medals in the 100- 200- and 400-meter freestyle over rising Chinese star Sun Yang.
Park, however, has said his primary goal at the worlds is improving on his personal best. Even though he is among the top class swimmers, Park said he is hesitant to say he’s the best because he hasn’t yet broken the world record.
Park will train at the Oriental Sports Center with his coach, Michael Bowl.
Park’s first event will be the 400-meter freestyle on Sunday and he will compete for 200-meter and 100-meter events for next four days.
FINA has prohibited swimmers from wearing high-technology swimsuits since January 2010. Park has competed and improved his times on the international stage without wearing now-banned full-body suit.
Park may help FINA’s desire to see a new world record set without the high-tech advantage.
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