Park Tae Hwan Takes Down Asian, Championship Records In Men’s 1500

2016 SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

South Korea’s Park Tae Hwan continued his incredible week in Windsor, upsetting World Record holder, defending World Champion and 2016 Olympic Champion Gregorio Paltrinieri to win gold in the men’s 1500 freestyle. Park touched in a time of 14:15.51, lowering the Asian, Korean and Championship records all in one swim.

Paltrinieri won silver in a time of 14:21.94, and Poland’s Wojciech Wojdak won bronze in 14:25.37, just off their National Record.

The Asian Record previously stood at 14:22.47, set by LC 800 free World Record holder Zhang Lin of China in 2009. The Championship Record was previously Paltrinieri’s at 14:16.10 from the 2014 Championships, and he broke his own Korean Record of 14:30.14 set in yesterday morning’s prelims.

Park has now completed a very impressive triple, winning gold in the 200, 400 and now 1500 freestyle. He still has the 100 free left on his schedule for tonight, which isn’t long after the 1500. He has now lowered the Asian Record in all three freestyle events this week.

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Northwest Fan
7 years ago

One should question how and why Park got to this point. He is obviously a very talented freestyler. But there is now the issue of a tainted background. FINA has bent the rules for him giving him an 18 month ban that normally would be 24 months for most athletes who test positive for testosterone, the end of that 18 months happen to coincide with the beginning of RIO. Sound a little fishy. Obviously the FINA decision had some economic factors involved. FINA is showing its true colours with Park and the Russians. There is obviously a level of deep seeded corruption.

The is now lots of medical evidence that episodic anabolic steroid use has long term effects. Have a… Read more »

keywest
Reply to  Northwest Fan
7 years ago

There is some investigations going on right now whether his testosterone injection is involved with Korea sports ministry corruption in order to prevent Park to participate internationally so that they can give advantage to other Korean athlete. The doctor who injected him with testosterone is hiding away to escape police investigation.

keywest
Reply to  Northwest Fan
7 years ago

The head of sports ministry of South Korea is under arrest now. He worked for Sunshil Choi, a lady who caused a huge political scandal in S. Korea and the evidence of his threatening voice to Park was found.

Cacrushers
7 years ago

How does sun yang not have the Asian record?

Hatt
Reply to  Cacrushers
7 years ago

Could you do me a favour and find any SCM time from him? 😀

Rubber ducky in my bubble bath
7 years ago

Do they have to swim the race freestyle? Did he swim freestyle tonight?

pinodee
Reply to  Rubber ducky in my bubble bath
7 years ago

You’re hilarious.

Person
7 years ago

Park Tae Hwan is on a role, obviously the… ahem, complications before Rio put him out of commission for a bit, but there you go. Did not expect Paltrinieri to get beat there.

Skoorbnagol
7 years ago

I’ll stick to my original comment
…. greatest freestyler of all time.

Doesn’t mean he’s won more or is the fastest at everything and regardless of doping saga…

For his height and speed over 100-1500, he’s technically brilliant.

Rookery
Reply to  Skoorbnagol
7 years ago

I’ll stick to my original response. I guess you’ve never heard of Ian Thorpe.

Skoorbnagol
Reply to  Rookery
7 years ago

Haha

ELLIE
Reply to  Skoorbnagol
7 years ago

He’s a great freestyler, but not the greatest, even not ONE OF the greatest of all time.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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