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Beijing Olympic gold medallist Park Tae-hwan is undergoing tough training with the USC swimming team under head coach Dave Salo. The South Korean has focused on improving his performance in the 1,500-meter freestyle event in a bid to improve his record at the FINA World Championships to be held in Rome, Italy, July 18 to 26.
/ Korea Times File | By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Swimming star Park Tae-hwan has successfully completed the first step of his six-week overseas training program designed to help him regain his prowess in preparation for the coveted world championships slated for July in Rome.
The nation's first swimming Olympic gold medallist has been undergoing practice since last Tuesday with his American coach at the University of Southern California (USC) in the United States.
The 20-year-old Dankook University freshman stunned the world by winning the gold medal in the men's 400-meter freestyle at the Beijing Olympics last summer, becoming the first Asian to manage the accomplishment.
Now, he has set his sights on improving his 1,500-meter record, targeting the world championships hosted by the International Federation of Amateur Swimming (FINA) in the Italian capital from July 18 to 26.
Park set the Asian record with a time of 14:55.03 in the 1,500-meter event at the Doha Asian Games in 2006, far from the current world record of 14:34.56 set by Grant Hackett of Australia in 2001.
Yet his Asian record was shattered by Chinese rival Zhang Lin who shaved almost 10 seconds to clock 14:45.84 in Beijing.
Dubbed ``Marine Boy,'' the swimming idol has set his prime goal on retaking the Asian No. 1 title in the distance race.
In a determined bid to accomplish this goal, Park has been swimming for five hours and taking two hours of weight training every day under USC head coach Dave Salo.
``I can't say anything at the moment for only a few days have passed. But I think this place is really good for training to be fit for a long-distance race. And most of all, I am enjoying training here, though it is pretty hard. I am convinced that I will become much stronger than now after the entire exercise program,' he said in a press meeting.
``I am now concentrating on increasing my ability to sustain the pace consistently during the 1,500-meter race and also on improving the technique to kick turn. Strengthening my breathing capacity is another task,'' he added.
``I'm focusing on the 1,500-meter race because hard practice for the long distance will naturally help better my 400-meter record,'' he said.
``I am very satisfied with the great circumstances here and the chances to learn lots. I will not disappoint my fans back at home by doing my best.''
USC head coach Salo is a specialist in long distance swimming. He coached Larsen Jensen, the silver medallist in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Jensen added a bronze medals in the 400-meter race in Beijing. The USC swimming teams have won 38 gold, 23 silver and 18 bronze medals in total at Olympic games.
출처 : http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2009/01/136_37981.html |
