Park Tae-hwan (, ; born September 27, 1989) is a South Korean retired competitive swimmer who is an Olympic gold medalist and world champion. He has four Olympic medals, five world titles, and 20 Asian Games medals. He won a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle and a silver in the 200-meter freestyle events at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He also won two silver medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 200- and 400-meter freestyle. He is the first Asian swimmer to claim a gold medal in the men's 400-meter freestyle, and the first-ever South Korean swimmer to win any Olympic medal in swimming. He also holds 3 Asian Records, all in Men's Freestyle. He is best known for his impressive range and versatility, as he is able to compete at international level in 100-, 200-, 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle.
Early and personal life
On September 27, 1989, Park was born in Seoul, South Korea to a middle-class family. His father is a saxophone player and his mother is a dancer. He has an elder sister Park In-mi.朴泰桓姐弟情深非同一般 称要找个姐姐一样的爱人 Retrieved 2016-08-22
Park started swimming at the age of 5. He idolizes Ian Thorpe as his role model.朴泰桓：孙杨把我当成偶像 这是我的人生收获 Retrieved in 2016-08-22朴泰桓喜欢被称作索普第二 Retrieved in 2016-08-22
Park is an alumnus of Kyunggi High School and Dankook University. He graduated from Dankook University in February 2012,Olympic swim champ Park eyes academic future, Yahoo! UK, Retrieved on February 13, 2012 where he majored in Physical Education.
In 2012, Park released an autobiography 박태환 : Freestyle Hero.朴泰桓出自传曝儿时怕水 练游泳缘起池底捡硬币 Retrieved 2016-08-22
Park met his first love when they were in Dankook University. The couple split in 2010.朴泰桓首度公开情事：初恋刻骨铭心 Retrieved 2016-08-22Park's serious ex-girlfriend... Retrieved 2016-12-14
He currently serves as a goodwill ambassador for 'Dynamic Korea', South Korea's international image-making campaign, alongside international figure skater Yuna Kim.Swimmer Park Tae-hwan as Dynamic Korea , Korea.net, Retrieved on November 24, 2007 Park Tae-hwan is one of Asia's top men's freestyle swimmers. He was voted Most Valuable Player at the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar where he won seven medals including three gold. He was voted Swimming World's Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year in 2006.
Park, as an Olympic and Asian Games medalist, was granted an exemption from two years of mandatory military service. However, he was still required to undergo four weeks of basic training, which he reported for on October 4, 2012.
Difficulties
Financial crisis
Park has allegedly faced many financial difficulties, despite being a world-class athlete. SK Telecom had sponsored Park from 2007 to 2012 but when his contract expired in 2012, SK Telecom decided to discontinue their sponsorship. Park was left to support his own athletic career for half a year. In the same year, Korea Swimming Federation (KSF) refused to give Park his 50 million won (approximately $44,950 USD) for winning two silver medals in the London Olympics. He received this award money in 2014. In 2013, it was revealed that Park did not have a swimming pool to train in. Within Seoul, there were only 7 swimming pools with a 50-meter lane, the international standard. These pools were either all booked or did not fulfill basic conditions like the water temperature which made it impossible to train in. In March 2013, Park signed with the Incheon Metropolitan City's swimming team. Park has since been receiving an annual salary from the city. In the sport centre of Incheon City, the swimming arena is named as Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Center () in honor to Park's unique achievement.Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Center Retrieved 2016-12-14朴泰桓荣膺韩国体育功臣奖 Retrieved 2016-12-27又萌又暖 朴泰桓扮圣诞老人出席慈善捐赠 Retrieved 2016-12-27
Doping He was hit by a steroid scandal as prosecutors confirmed on January 27, 2015 that he tested positive in a doping test. His doctor (who later claimed unfamiliarity with the regulations) had administered Nebido - a relatively new anabolic steroid.Today's Swimming Superstar Retrieved 2015-02-01 In mid-Aug, 2016, Seoul Central District Court of final appeal ruled the doctor who injected Park with the steroid Nebido guilty of breaching medical code for failing to log into her patient's records, but cleared of the more serious charge of causing Park bodily harm. The doctor was fined $10,000 for the incident which resulted in an 18-month ban by FINA for Park, thus ruling the former Olympic champion out of the 2016 Summer Olympics.tearful swimmer Park Tae-Hwan Retrieved 2016-12-13
In October 2016, as the 2016 South Korean political scandal broke out, it was revealed that Park and his doping woes were caused by the corruption within South Korea's Ministry of Culture and Sports, thus rendering him a victim.朴泰桓兴奋剂门出现反转剧情 朴槿惠闺蜜或成幕后黑手 Retrieved 2016-12-12김연아·박태환·손연재...'최순실 게이트'에 휘말린 스포츠 스타들 Retrieved 2016-12-14韩媒：朴泰桓被禁赛或与崔顺实有关 Retrieved 2016-12-12朴泰桓禁藥案 竟扯上閨密門 Retrieved 2016-12-12朴泰桓里约与韩国政治 Retrieved 2016-12-12朴泰桓服用禁药的真相是被陷害?或沦为韩国政治黑幕牺牲品 Retrieved 2016-12-12朴槿惠事件不断发酵.스포츠 대통령'으로 불리며 체육계에서 엄청난 권력을 자랑하던 김종 전 문체부 차관은 국가대표 수영선수 박태환에 2016 리우 올림픽 출전을 포기하도록 협박했다는 의혹이 불거졌다. Retrieved 2016-12-12 With Kim Jong, the former Vice Minister of Culture and Sports, issued an apology to him.韩国"体坛总统"金钟向朴泰桓及金妍儿低头道歉 Retrieved 2016-12-12Kim Yuna revealed to have been the victim of Korea's latest political scandal Retrieved 2016-12-14영웅 남매의 눈물..."김종에 협박당한 박태환, 장시호에 찍힌 김연아" Retrieved 2016-12-14Swimmer Park claims he is another victim of Choi Retrieved 2016-12-13Park Tae-hwan speaks out about external pressure on Olympic participation Retrieved 2016-12-13朴泰桓世锦赛夺3金重回巅峰 2年煎熬终沉冤得雪 Retrieved 2016-12-14朴泰桓的2016如狗血韩剧 Retrieved 2016-12-31韩媒评国内体坛十大新闻 朴泰桓重返巅峰排首位 Retrieved 2016-12-31
Swimming Beginning
Park began swimming at the age of 5 when his doctor suggested it would be good for his asthma. He began his competitive swimming career at the age of 7, earning several medals in junior competitions.Dynamic Koreans of the year: Kim Yoon-A, Park Tae-hwan , Korea.net, Retrieved on December 10, 2007 This early success led to Park's selection to the Korean Swimming Federation as a national team member in 2003.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics, which was his first international competition, 14-year-old Park was the youngest athlete of Team South Korea.Five things about South Korean swimmer Park Tae-Hwan Retrieved 2016-12-14 However, Park was disqualified for a false start in the preliminary heat of the men's 400-meter freestyle.Athletes; Taehwan Park , Yahoo.com. Retrieved on August 15, 2004. Park later confessed that his disappointment over this fueled him to improve his starts, and he now has one of the fastest reaction times among top elite swimmers, consistently posting under 0.70 of a second. Shortly thereafter at the 2004 FINA Swimming World Cup, Park was the runner-up in the men's 400-meter freestyle event.
2006 World Championships
Event Results TimeMen's 400 m freestyleSilver Medal 3:40.43Men's 1500m freestyleSilver Medal 14:33.28 The 8th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) swam April 5–9, 2006 at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, China.
2006 Asian Games
Event Results TimeMen's 100 m freestyleSilver Medal 50.02Men's 200 m freestyle Gold Medal 1:47.12 (AS)Men's 400 m freestyle Gold Medal 3:48.44Men's 1500 m freestyle Gold Medal 14:55.03 (AS)Men's 4 × 100 m freestyle relayBronze Medal 3:22.16Men's 4 × 200 m freestyle relayBronze Medal 7:23.61Men's 4 × 100 m medley relayBronze Medal 3:41.33
The Swimming competition at the 2006 Asian Games took place December 2–9 at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha, Qatar. It featured 38 events (19 male, 19 female), all conducted in a long course (50m) pool. Park continued his competitive success in subsequent years, most notably at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where he won three golds, one silver and three bronze medals, the most medals won by a single athlete at the Games. He also set two Asian Records. For his success, Park was named an Athlete of the Games.
2006 Pan Pacific Championships
Event Results TimeMen's 200 m freestyleSilver Medal 1:47.51Men's 400 m freestyle Gold Medal 3:45.72Men's 1500m Freestyle Gold Medal 15:06.11
The tenth edition of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, a long course (50 m) event, was held in 2006 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, from August 17–20. At this event, Park won two gold medals (in the 1500 meter freestyle and the 400 meter freestyle) and one silver medal (200 m freestyle).
Park was named the 2006 Pacific Rim Male Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine, beating out Olympic medalist (and 2005 awardee) Australian Grant Hackett for the honor.
2007 World Championships
Event Results Time 200 m freestyle Bronze Medal 1:46:73 (AS) 400 m freestyle Gold Medal 3:44:30 (AS) The Swimming competition at the 12th FINA World Aquatics Championships was held in Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia, from 25 March to 1 April 2007. This portion of the 2007 Worlds featured 40 events (20 for males, 20 for females), all swum in a long course (50 m) pool.
2007 FINA Swimming World Cup
Meet Date Event Results TimeSydney 2 + 3 November 2007 Men's 200 m freestyle Gold Medal 1:43.38Sydney 2 + 3 November 2007 Men's 400 m freestyleGold Medal 3:39.99Sydney 2 + 3 November 2007 Men's 1500 m freestyleGold Medal 14:49.94Stockholm 13 + 14 November 2007 Men's 200 m freestyleGold Medal 1:43.87Stockholm 13 + 14 November 2007 Men's 400 m freestyleGold Medal 3:42.14Stockholm 13 + 14 November 2007 Men's 1500 m freestyleGold Medal 14:36.42Berlin 17 + 18 November 2007 Men's 200 m freestyleGold Medal 1:42.22Berlin 17 + 18 November 2007 Men's 400 m freestyleGold Medal 3:36.68Berlin 17 + 18 November 2007 Men's 1500 m freestyleGold Medal 14:34.39
Park won triple gold at the FINA Swimming World Cup 2007 in Berlin. This was his third consecutive triple crown after bringing three golds home in the third leg of the Cup in Sydney and another three in the fifth in Stockholm. Park's record in the 200-meter freestyle is threatening the world record of 1:41.10 set by Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe in February 2000.
2008 Summer Olympics
Event Results TimeMen's 200 m freestyleSilver Medal 1:44.85 Men's 400 m freestyleGold Medal 3:41.86
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Park won a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle event and a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle event. He is the first Asian swimmer to claim a gold medal in the men's 400-meter freestyle, and was the only Korean to win an Olympic medal in swimming to date until Kim Woo-min won bronze in the same event in 2024.
His winning time of 3:41.86 made him the second fastest man ever in this distance in history, only behind then-world record holder Ian Thorpe whose time was 3:40.08. In swimming 1:44.85 in the 200-meter freestyle final, Park joined Michael Phelps, Ian Thorpe, and Pieter van den Hoogenband as the only men to have ever swum under 1:45 in the event.
2009 World Championships
Date (in Rome) Event Results TimeJuly 26 400 m freestyle 12th place 3:46.04July 28 200 m freestyle 13th place 1:46.68August 1 1500 m freestyle 9th place 15:00.87
At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships held in Rome, Italy, Park surprised many after failing to qualify to swim in the finals of the 200- and 400-meter freestyle.Park Tae-hwan Is Too Young to Give Up , Retrieved on July 30, 2009 Some blamed Park's poor performance on his decision to wear Speedo's LZR Racer in the championships.Park Tae-hwan Trounced in 200-m Freestyle, Retrieved on July 30, 2009Park Tae-Hwan exits in world championship heats , Retrieved on July 30, 2009
2010 Pan Pacific Championships
Event Results TimeMen's 200 m freestyleSilver Medal 1:46.27Men's 400 m freestyleGold Medal 3:44.73 The eleventh edition of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, also known as the 2010 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, a long course (50 m) event, was held in Irvine, California, United States, from August 18–22.