Last week it was announced that five Korean women had punched their tickets to the Rio Olympic Games, but not a single man had earned an Olympic berth.
While Park Tae-hwan surpassed FINA A standards, the Korean Olympic Committee announced last month that it would uphold its additional three year doping ban. The suspension has been argued to be a double punishment, since Park already served 18 months for his positive test at the 2014 Asian Games.
With the announcement of the Olympic roster, Park spoke at a news conference on Monday begging for a second chance. He got down on all fours, according to The Straits Times in a desperate plea. “As a swimmer, I feel it is most important to speak through records and results in the pool, ” said the 26 year old.
In 2008, he won Korea’s first Olympic swimming medal when he struck gold in the 400 freestyle. Park won the 100, 200, 400, and 1500 freestyles last week at the Korean Olympic Trials. Those titles included the world’s fourth fastest 400 freestyle this year.
Park is hoping to join Ahn Se-hyeon who will represent the nation in the 100 and 200 butterfly events. Park Hin-yeong will join her in the 200, while Baek Soo-yeon snagged a breaststroke berth. Kim Seo-yeong and Nam Yoo-seon both earned A cuts in the 200 IM.
In 2012, Korea had four men and five women earn FINA A cuts. National team Coach Ahn Jong-taek explained the implications of this decline, “The ‘A’ standard directly reflects the current trend of world swimming. This means that Korean swimming is lagging behind the ‘A’ standard records that are getting faster and faster.”
Stupid should hurt. That’s how we learn not to repeat bad behavior.
Then he shouldn’t use banned substances. They better not let him on their team. No cheaters allowed!
Kathy Yun :-,(
uh oh!!! :=( tae tae needs to participate!!
Liran Konovalov