South Korean swimmer Park Tae Hwan has won his 5th individual event, and 6th overall, on the final day of the 2014 South Korean National Championships in Gincheon.
Stepping the furthest outside of his comfort zone as he has the whole meet, Park won the men’s 400 IM in 4:23.21. We think that’s a best time, as we can’t find any records of where he’s previously swum the event, but we know it’s a win – topping a 4:25.17 from Jung Won-Yong.
That was also a new Meet Record: an achievement that was matched by Nam Yoo Sun in the women’s race. She took that title in 4:42.57 – only a second away from the National Record.
The 400 IM was one of only two individual events as this meet ended with a bit of a whimper rather than a bang. The other was the men’s 1500 free timed final. This was an event in which Park was entered, but scratched out of about halfway through the meet.
The swim still saw a new Meet Record, with a 15:41.46 from Park Seok-Hyun taking gold and the spot on the 2014 Asian Games team. Park Tae-Hwan will still have the opportunity to swim this event at the Asian Games if he so chooses.