S. Korean swimming prodigy Park: "I will defeat Phelps tomorrow!"
11/8/2008 17:31
South Korean swimming prodigy Park Taehwan said he would try his best to
defeat Michael Phelps after he left the American sensation behind in a men's
200m freestyle semifinal in Beijing this morning.
"I will defeat Phelps
tomorrow", Park told reporters in the mixed zone after the race.
Park beat
Phelps by 0.29 second and finished second with 1:45.99 during the heat, while
Phelps's compatriot Peter Vanderkaay snatched the first place in the start list
for the final to be held tomorrow morning.
Phelps swam in an apparent effort
to save his strength for the later 4X100 freestyle relay. Eventually the
American won his second Olympic gold and he and his teammates created a stunning
new world record with 3.99 seconds faster than the previous one they set in
yesterday's heats.
Park said he was tired after yesterday's race, however,
after a day of rest, his strength will recover and his morale remains
high.
The South Korean freestyler gave his country its first Olympic swimming
gold medal yesterday morning when he took on retired Australian Ian Thorpe's
mantle as men's 400 meters freestyle champion.
Dubbed as nation's little
brother, Park is the event's world champion and a hugely popular athlete in his
country. Even South Korean President Lee Myung-bak interrupted an official
meeting to watch his live TV telecast.
A presidential office spokesman said
that Lee called Park to congratulate the swimmer and give him encouragement in
his next races.
"Your Olympic victory is a giant glory to the entire nation.
You elevated the morale of the entire nation. Congratulations," Lee was quoted
as telling Park. "Your world-class performance demonstrated the enhanced
national power of Korea."
Park already beat Aussie long-distance king Grant
Hackett, his childhood hero, twice in international races last year and won the
world championship.
Moreover, having overcome the Australian veteran in the
400m final in Beijing made his first Olympic gold even more
shining.
Xinhua
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