Black Friday is Now! Don’t miss out on up to 60% OFF InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Park hopes to make a splash at Rio, despite lack of preparation

Published 15/07/2016, 09:32
© Reuters. South Korea's Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan attends a news conference at a hotel in Seoul

(Reuters) - Former Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan is confident of winning a medal at next month's Rio Games despite the lack of preparation time following his qualification drama.

Park, the first Korean to win an Olympic swimming medal when he won gold in the 400 freestyle gold in Beijing, completed an 18-month ban imposed by world governing body FINA in March after testing positive for testosterone ahead of the 2014 Asian Games.

However, under a controversial Korean Olympic Committee regulation, he was then hit with an additional three-year ban from the national team the day the FINA suspension expired, effectively ruling him out of contention for the Rio Olympics.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared the 26-year-old to compete at the Aug. 5-21 Games only last week, upholding his appeal against the KOC ban.

"I know I haven't had much time to prepare, but I've been training really hard over that short period of time," Park was quoted as saying by the Yonhap News Agency.

"I believe my hard work will pay off and I will be able to put together good performances. The most important thing will be to compete with confidence."

Entangled in legal battles, Park has been able to compete in only two events this year -- the South Korean time-trials in April and the Australia Grand Prix earlier this month, where he finished fourth in the 200 metres freestyle final.

"I am worried about it (lack of competitive events), but I don't want to make it an excuse for not doing well at the Olympics," he said.

© Reuters. South Korea's Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan attends a news conference at a hotel in Seoul

"I know I haven't had much time to prepare, but I've been training really hard over that short period of time."

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.