 |
|
| Tae-Hwan
PARK |
| Sport |
Swimming |
| NOC |
Republic of Korea
|
| Gender | Men |
| Born | 27 Sep 1989
in Seoul, KOR |
| Height | 1.83 m |
|
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|
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|
General Interest |
Injuries |
He was troubled by persistent injuries to his right shoulder in 2014 and 2015. (hani.co.kr, 04 Jun 2015) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
He suffered from asthma as a child and started the sport because it was recommended to his parents by a doctor. He then showed talent at the sports centre where he swam and set his sights on a career as a swimmer. |
General Interest |
Hero / Idol |
Australian swimmer Grant Hackett, US swimmer Michael Phelps. (sports.chosun.com, 25 Aug 2015; 12 Apr 2013) |
Awards and honours |
He was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] at the 2017 Korean National Sports Festival. (sports.donga.com, 27 Oct 2017)
In 2015 he received the Choengryong Medal, the Republic of Korea's highest order of sport merit. (news.tvchosun.com, 28 Feb 2015)
He was named 2006 Pacific Rim Male Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine. (Swimming World, 30 Nov 2006)
He was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar by the Olympic Council of Asia [OCA]. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 May 2021; Timed Finals, 15 Dec 2006) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began swimming at age five. |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Marine Boy (incheonilbo.com, 09 Nov 2020) |
Other information |
BREAK FROM COMPETITION
In June 2018 he withdrew from the Korean team for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. The following year he decided not to compete at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, and announced that he was taking time away from international competitions. "I've realised that I am in no shape to post good times. Rather than saying I am retiring, I'd like to take some time to think about my future." (hankyung.com, 18 Oct 2019; sportsworldi.com, 25 Apr 2019; newsis.com, 24 Apr 2019; swimswam.com, 29 Jun 2018)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2020 he teamed up with local businessmen to open the Park Tae-Hwan Swimming Science Institute in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The non-profit research organisation was set up to provide scholarships and support socially disadvantaged people in the area with the provision of swimming training. He also opened the Private Park Tae-Hwan Swimming Pool in Incheon in 2020, where he teaches swimming to children aged between three and eight from socially disadvantaged families. The main swimming pool in Incheon that was used during the 2014 Asian Games is also named after him. (incheonilbo.com, 09 Nov 2020; seoul.co.kr, 26 Jul 2020; Instagram profile, 13 July 2020)
SUSPENSION AND APPEAL
He tested positive for testosterone in September 2014 and in March 2015 he received an 18-month ban from the International Swimming Federation [FINA]. He was stripped of the one silver and five bronze medals he had won at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Republic of Korea. In April 2016 the Korean Olympic Committee [KOC] enforced their rule that prevents athletes who have tested positive for banned substances from representing the national team for an additional three years. In June 2016 Park appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] which ruled in his favour. The KOC declared him eligible for selection for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he competed in multiple events. (olympictalk.nbcsports.com, 26 Jan 2015; 23 Mar 2015; chosun.com, 09 Feb 2015; english.chosun.com, 29 May 2015; huffingtonpost.kr, 09 Jun 2015; swimswam.com, 08 Jul 2016) |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Physical Education - Dankook University: Seoul, KOR |
Occupation |
Director |
Languages |
English, Korean |
International Debut |
Year |
2004 |
Competing for |
Korea |
General Interest |
Milestones |
He became the first Korean swimmer to win an Olympic medal when he won gold in the 400m freestyle at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Two days later he became the first Korean swimmer to win more than one Olympic medal when he claimed silver in the 200m freestyle. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 May 2021; olympictalk.nbcsports.com, 23 Mar 2015) |
Most influential person in career |
His mother. (sbs.co.kr, 20 Dec 2019) |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| Heats |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
200m Freestyle |
1:48.06 |
| Heats |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
400m Freestyle |
3:45.63 |
| Heats |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
100m Freestyle |
49.24 |
| Heats |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
1500m Freestyle |
DNS |
| 2 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
400m Freestyle |
3:42.06 |
| 2 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
200m Freestyle |
1:44.93 |
| 4 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
1500m Freestyle |
14:50.61 |
| 1 |
2008 |
Beijing, CHN |
400m Freestyle |
3:41.86 |
| 2 |
2008 |
Beijing, CHN |
200m Freestyle |
1:44.85 |
| Heats |
2008 |
Beijing, CHN |
1500m Freestyle |
15:05.55 |
| 47 |
2004 |
Athens, GRE |
400m Freestyle |
DSQ |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 8 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
200m Freestyle |
1:47.11 |
| Heats |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
1500m Freestyle |
14:59.44 |
| 4 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
400m Freestyle |
3:44.38 |
| 1 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
400m Freestyle |
3:42.04 |
| 4 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
200m Freestyle |
1:44.92 |
| Semifinal |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
100m Freestyle |
48.86 |
| Heat |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
1500m Freestyle |
15:00.87 |
| Heat |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
400m Freestyle |
3:46.04 |
| Semifinal |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
200m Freestyle |
1:46.68 |
| Heats |
2007 |
Melbourne, VIC, AUS |
1500m Freestyle |
15:03.62 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Melbourne, VIC, AUS |
400m Freestyle |
3:44.30 |
| 3 |
2007 |
Melbourne, VIC, AUS |
200m Freestyle |
1:46.73 |
| 42 |
2005 |
Montreal, CAN |
400m Freestyle |
4:04.75 |
| Heat |
2005 |
Montreal, CAN |
200m Freestyle |
1:49.70 |
| Heats |
2005 |
Montreal, QC, CAN |
800m Freestyle |
8:08.52 |
World Championships Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
400m Freestyle |
3:34.59 |
| 1 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
200m Freestyle |
1:41.03 |
| 1 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
1500m Freestyle |
14:15.51 |
| 7 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
100m Freestyle |
47.09 |
| 2 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
400m Freestyle |
3:40.43 |
| 2 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
1500m Freestyle |
14:33.28 |
| 16 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
200m Freestyle |
1:47.53 |
| 11 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay |
7:19.69 |
| 14 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:24.93 |
| |
2004 |
Indianapolis, IN, USA |
200m Freestyle |
DNS |
| |
2004 |
Indianapolis, IN, USA |
1500m Freestyle |
DNS |
| |
2004 |
Indianapolis, IN, USA |
400m Freestyle |
DNS |
World Cup Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 52 |
2017 |
|
Overall |
|
| 6 |
2017 |
Tokyo, JPN |
100m Freestyle |
47.66 |
| 2 |
2017 |
Tokyo, JPN |
1500m Freestyle |
14:32.90 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Berlin, GER |
400m Freestyle |
3:36.68 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Berlin, GER |
1500m Freestyle |
14:34.19 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Berlin, GER |
200m Freestyle |
1:42.22 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Stockholm, SWE |
400m Freestyle |
3:42.14 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Stockholm, SWE |
1500m Freestyle |
14:36.42 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Stockholm, SWE |
200m Freestyle |
1:43.87 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Sydney, NSW, AUS |
400m Freestyle |
3:39.99 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Sydney, NSW, AUS |
200m Freestyle |
1:43.38 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Sydney, NSW, AUS |
1500m Freestyle |
14:49.94 |
| 1 |
2005/2006 |
Durban, RSA |
400m Freestyle |
3:42.78 |
| 2 |
2005/2006 |
Durban, RSA |
1500m Freestyle |
14:42.51 |
| 1 |
2005/2006 |
Sydney, NSW, AUS |
400m Freestyle |
3:43.25 |
| 2 |
2005/2006 |
Sydney, NSW, AUS |
200m Freestyle |
1:45.26 |
| 1 |
2005/2006 |
Sydney, NSW, AUS |
1500m Freestyle |
14:44.87 |
| 3 |
2004/2005 |
Daejeon, KOR |
200m Freestyle |
1:48.22 |
| 2 |
2004/2005 |
Daejeon, KOR |
1500m Freestyle |
14:52.49 |
| 2 |
2004/2005 |
Daejeon, KOR |
400m Freestyle |
3:46.84 |
| 2 |
2004/2005 |
Melbourne, VIC, AUS |
1500m Freestyle |
14:48.46 |
| 2 |
2004/2005 |
Moscow, RUS |
1500m Freestyle |
14:43.13 |
Asian Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
400m Freestyle |
3:44.68 |
| 1 |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
100m Freestyle |
48.57 |
| 5 |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
50m Freestyle |
22.57 |
| 1 |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
200m Freestyle |
1:45.16 |
| 1 |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
1500m Freestyle |
15:07.86 |
| 3 |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:18.80 |
Asian Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 4 |
2014 |
Incheon, KOR |
1500m Freestyle |
15:12.15 |
| |
2014 |
Incheon, KOR |
100m Freestyle |
48.75 DSQ |
| |
2014 |
Incheon, KOR |
200m Freestyle |
1:45.85 DSQ |
| |
2014 |
Incheon, KOR |
400m Freestyle |
3:48.33 DSQ |
| |
2014 |
Incheon, KOR |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:39.18 DSQ |
| |
2014 |
Incheon, KOR |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:18.44 DSQ |
| |
2014 |
Incheon, KOR |
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay |
7:21.37 DSQ |
| 1 |
2010 |
Guangzhou, CHN |
400m Freestyle |
3:41.53 CR |
| 1 |
2010 |
Guangzhou, CHN |
100m Freestyle |
48.70 CR |
| 2 |
2010 |
Guangzhou, CHN |
1500m Freestyle |
15:01.72 |
| 1 |
2010 |
Guangzhou, CHN |
200m Freestyle |
1:44.80 AR CR |
| 3 |
2010 |
Guangzhou, CHN |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:19.02 |
| 3 |
2010 |
Guangzhou, CHN |
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay |
7:24.14 |
| 2 |
2010 |
Guangzhou, CHN |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:38.30 |
| 1 |
2006 |
Doha, QAT |
200m Freestyle |
1:47.12 AR CR |
| 1 |
2006 |
Doha, QAT |
400m Freestyle |
3:48.44 CR |
| 2 |
2006 |
Doha, QAT |
100m Freestyle |
50.02 |
| 1 |
2006 |
Doha, QAT |
1500m Freestyle |
14:55.03 AR CR |
| 3 |
2006 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay |
7:23.61 |
| 3 |
2006 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:41.33 |
| 3 |
2006 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:22.16 |
| |
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