Experts Say Park Should Concentrate on 1,500m

“Why is he participating in so many swimming competitions?” This is a question many former coaches of swimming teams and swimming experts pose in regard to Park Tae-hwan (18), who has won nine gold metals in FINA swimming championship competition.

Some are also saying that there is no reason for Park to participate in three different events. Their concern is that with Park’s rivals, including Grant Hackett (Australia) and Michael Phelps (USA) absent, Park’s race secrets may have been disclosed, which can be used against him in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

His taking part in many competitions, however, has made it clear that he stands a high chance of winning gold medals in the Beijing Olympics. He reduced his times by 1’16’’ and 3’31’’ in the 200m and 400m, respectively. He will win gold medals if he continues to break his records, even though there are differences in his records between the 25m and 50m-long courses.

In the 200m and 400m, the world records are 1’43’’86 (Phelps) and 3’40’’08 (Ian Thorpe), which shows only a slight difference with Park’s times in the events: 1’46’’73 and 3’44’’30, respectively. Park’s records are similar to those registered in the Athens Olympics, 1’44’71 and 3’43’’90, respectively, but experts say that there are many variables that could impact the fierce competition between the swimmers. They think that Park should concentrate on the 1,500m, which is less competitive than other events, to increase his likelihood of winning.

Song Hong-seon, a doctor in physiology at the Korea Institute of Sports Science, said, “Not many variables will interfere with his chances of winning once Park improves his current record in the 1,500m. By building more muscular endurance and stamina, Park can definitely land a gold medal. Park’s current record in the 1,500m is 14’55’’03, which is 20 seconds behind of Hackitt’s 14’34’’56. However, if Park cuts about 10 seconds from his record, he can win gold, because in the Athens Olympics, the gold medal went to a swimmer with the record of 14’43’’40.

Former race coach Park Seok-ki, who is taking full responsibility for Park Tae-hwan’s training, said on the topic of better endurance that, “Park needs stronger endurance. In Australia in December, we are going to concentrate on endurance training.”

yjongk@donga.com