2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Swimming: August 6-13
- Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
- Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
- SwimSwam previews
- Rio Schedule & Results
- Live Stream (NBC)
2012 Olympic 4th place finisher Park Tae Hwan has no-showed his 1500m free heat this afternoon, ending a underwhelming Olympics for the 4-time Olympic medalist.
Park was banned an additional three years by his native Korea for a doping charge that he had already served the required 18-month suspension. He appealed the decision, and ultimately got allowed back in just a month before the Games.
With his Olympic status up in the air until early July, Park’s Olympic preparation was far from ideal.
That was evident with his performances here, finishing out of the final in the 400 freestyle and out of the semis in the 100 and 200 free.
He was the Olympic champ in the 400 back in 2008, and won silver behind Michael Phelps in the 200. In 2012 he won a pair of silver medals in the same two events, trailing Sun Yang in the 400 and tying with him in the 200 behind Yannick Agnel.
He has never had quite enough speed for the 100 and not enough endurance for the 1500, though his 4th place finish in the ladder’s Olympic final four years ago was a great result. That was his best finish in the 1500 at a major international competition other than his win back at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships.
Seeing as he wasn’t able to make it out of the prelims in either the 200 or the 400, it’s no surprise he didn’t compete in the 1500 heats this morning.
I was supporting him with all my heart and I’m sure the rest of Korea had high hopes for him… Even after the doping charge we never lost faith until… Wow. I wouldn’t mind if he hadn’t won anything, since there would always be a next time, but why, just why, did he drop out of an event? What an unsportsmanlike and depressing thing to do. Mr. Park, even if you felt as if you’d fail, you should still try and go for it. I was actually pretty disappointed – not because of the result but because of his lack of faith.
*Meldonium/trimedazine
GOOD RIDDANCE !!! OFF GOES THE Cheater
SMH these people don’t even know the story and they all just hop onto the bandwagon and constantly call him a cheater.
The big question is why did he go through that whole process of begging to be let into the Games if he was going to swim so terribly? It wasn’t just an off meet, he wasn’t training.
I’m pretty sure that while youre banned you’re not allowed to train with a coach affiliated with Fina or your national swimming federation. So maybe that’s why
Doesn’t mean he should swim that poorly just for not having a coach. For a swimmer of his level, he should have no problem training by himself and writing practices
That’s ridiculous. Why do any of these athletes have coaches then?
ROTFL!
That’s hilarious, seriously?
You’re severely underestimating the influence and reliance athletes have on their coaches. Unbelievable.
Only disappointing thing is that he was allowed to compete in this games
if you don’t know the full story, you shouldn’t be talking