For anyone watching Korean television yesterday this is pretty much all that was on:
It took less than four minutes for Korea’s swimming sensation Park Tae-hwan to prove to the world he is the best 400-meter freestyle swimmer, ending Australia’s dominance of the event.
Park, dubbed “marine boy” by Korean media, won the gold medal in the 400-meter event Sunday morning at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, finishing the race in 3 minutes, 41.86 seconds, just 1.78 seconds off the 6 year-standing world record.
Park’s winning race, watched by millions in Korea, represents the country’s first-ever gold medal in an Olympic swimming event. The medal also symbolizes a personal triumph for 19-year-old Park, who first took up swimming at the age of seven to combat asthma.
Zhang Lin from China claimed silver, touching at in 3:42.78, while American Larsen Jensen took the bronze. Australia’s Grant Hackett, one of the favorites going into the race, came in sixth. [Korea Times]
Park Tae-hwan was understandably quite happy to win the gold and the American swimmer Larsen Jensen was quite happy to win his bronze as well and congratulated Park. The Chinese swimmer Zhang Lin on the other hand looked really displeased about placing 2nd. Even on the podium he wasn’t smiling about winning a silver medal.
President George Bush was there to watch the event and saw Park take gold. I was surprised that Korean President Lee Myung-bak wasn’t at the competition. It was a competition that Korea had a good chance of claiming a gold medal in for him to support. The Korean news showed him attending the women’s handball competition which may be why he wasn’t at the swimming competition.
On Korean television yesterday they had specials about Park’s life, his family, his swim team, his trainers, etc. on all day. There was even prepared Park Tae-hwan commercials playing when specials were not on about this life. He is without a doubt Korea’s newest golden boy and he is only 19 years old. It is a well earned distinction though and I rather watch Park Tae-hwan madness sweep the country then Dokdo or crazy cow madness any day.
9:26 am on August 11th, 2008 1
[...] I said before, Lee should have went to the swimming [...]
9:26 am on August 11th, 2008 2
[...] I said before, Lee should have went to the swimming [...]
11:12 am on August 11th, 2008 3
Wow GI Korea, sometimes you catch me off guard…
…perhaps you never were under Japanese payroll afterall…???
…. … … nah~~ nevermind.
[Reply]
11:25 am on August 11th, 2008 4
“…I rather watch Park Tae-hwan madness sweep the country then Dokdo or crazy cow madness any day.”
Amen. Feel great for Korea having its homeboys winning gold and silver… Feeling pride and happiness beats hate anyday.
[Reply]
12:19 pm on August 11th, 2008 5
ROK,
I have to agree with you about the Chinese swimmer. A really bad performance in a semi-winning role. He looked unhappy on the podium and kept trying to avoid the photo ops. Park had to keep rounding him back up.
He looked like someone who was going to be beaten when he went back to his coach.
[Reply]
12:45 am on August 12th, 2008 6
I’m very happy and excited that I won a golden medal
I will make sure that have a golden medal at 400m and 1500m so I will make Korea very popular.
KOREA IS A BEST COUNTRY ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
1:52 am on August 12th, 2008 7
S Korean Park: “I will defeat Phelps tomorrow!”
Arrogant little jerk isnt he.
“KOREA IS A BEST COUNTRY ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
It is amazing that Koreans think this and yet flee Korea in hoards.
[Reply]
2:21 am on August 12th, 2008 8
separated at birth?
http://www.gummylump.com/files/product/a_1226.bert-hand-puppet.jpg
Be honest now
Com’on now, be honest, they look a lot alike don’t they.
[Reply]
4:34 am on August 12th, 2008 9
The only one who’s arrogant is you.
This is what Park actually said:
“I want to add another gold medal in the 200 meters, but I’m far behind Phelps in time and technique,” Park said after the semifinals. “He is a great athlete.”
“I really want to end his bid for eight golds, but I am an underdog to Phelps, who claimed eight medals in Athens and seven at the World Championships.”
“He is beyond me now but if given a chance, I want to overtake him at the London Olympics in 2012.”
Though he said he is no match for Phelps, Park could still pick up a medal in the event.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2008/08/253_29144.html
[Reply]
4:35 am on August 12th, 2008 10
Sour grape expats.
[Reply]
5:43 am on August 12th, 2008 11
Park is a real jerk and poor sport. “I really want to end his bid for eight golds”
what an jerk. Park is a realy bratty jerk.
Here is the headline. Notice the Quotes?
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/11/content_9164680.htm
[Reply]
6:35 am on August 12th, 2008 12
Shattered quotes a Chinese paper that claims Park said “I will defeat Phelps tomorrow”. No such thing was said by Park. What he really said was (yeah, he sounds really arrogant
):
“I want to add another gold medal in the 200 meters, but I’m far behind Phelps in time and technique,” Park said after the semifinals. “He is a great athlete.”
“I really want to end his bid for eight golds, but I am an underdog to Phelps, who claimed eight medals in Athens and seven at the World Championships.”
[Reply]
9:55 am on August 12th, 2008 13
Yes Tom, very good! It was a Chinese newspaper. I trust a Chinese newspaper when it discusses Korea much more then the Korean press. You thinnk that the Korean press would print anything unflattering about arrogant Park? Not while they are seeking the 2013 world swimming championships.
Seoul is seeking to host the 2013 World Swimming Championships.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200808/200808120005.html
[Reply]
10:15 am on August 12th, 2008 14
“I trust a Chinese newspaper”.
[Reply]
10:48 am on August 12th, 2008 15
I wish I could watch more events than are covered here in Seoul on TV – anyone know where to find streaming vids of the games? I fell prey to paying for http://www.watch-olympic-games.com/ which is just a front for a bunch of freeware tv servers and I have yet to see an olympic game – just tv shows from eastern europe – yeah I’m dumb – hopefully my credit card is safe…
[Reply]
11:25 am on August 12th, 2008 16
“That’s because you’re a greasy won ton.”
Being called a wonton by a dogeater doesn’t hold much weight. Anyway, I didn’t have to lift a finger and I already have you speaking Chinese (well Cantonese, but its the thought that counts). Now just imagine how well you will speak your masters toungue if I put my mind to it.
[Reply]
1:22 pm on August 12th, 2008 17
Park eats his words and then runs off and cried like a girl.
Phelps breaks 200 free world record for third gold
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPl1pbkx7D2f0ncr2hUJTc6paZqA
The poor sport park should hang his head low. “I really want to end his bid for eight golds” said arrogant park. “I will defeat Phelps tomorrow” Said the arrogant park between tears.
[Reply]
10:06 pm on August 12th, 2008 18
[...] hugging each other and smiling after the race, compared to the Chinese swimmer Zhang Lin when Park won Gold in the 400 meter freestyle who seemed angry at Park for winning and appeared to want nothing to do with [...]
7:56 pm on August 13th, 2008 19
DELETED BY ADMIN
[Reply]
1:02 am on August 16th, 2008 20
Hahaha. Shattered, I’m sorry Korea is better than China in many ways. China can’t handle losing to Korea cause they think they are superior. Also, another contribution to the Chinese morale is the Olympics being held in Bejing. Yea, so… sorry for the bad news.
[Reply]
5:55 am on August 16th, 2008 21
Shattered, I did not see that particular statement in your afp.google.com link. Could someone provide a non korean or chinese link as not to have any perception of bias in there?
Please remember both countries will trump up their people if they do well in a race. This has been done since the dawn of time and it’s nothing new.
Home countries try to make their folks look bigger than life. China is just following a very old pattern, so that’s normal for the Olympics.
[Reply]