Old rivals, Park Tae-Hwan and Michael Phelps to face each other at last USA Grand Prix
After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Korean swimming star Park Tae-Hwan is all set to face his strongest rival, Michael Phelps, a month before World Championships at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in California, this June. The Korean was unable to
break the spell of American champion, as he finished slightly away from him in 2008.
The news was declared by South Korean (SK) Telecom Sports Division and Korea Swimming Federation (KSF) that Tae-Hwan will face Phelps twice this year; first in California and then at 2011 Shanghai World Championships, in July.
The two of them will be facing each other for the first time since Beijing. Tae-Hwan won the gold medal in the 400m freestyle and the silver medal in the 200m freestyle at Beijing in 2008. The California Grand Prix is the seventh and last of the USA 2011
Grand Prix Series and Phelps has never abandoned this event in his entire swimming career. Moreover, the event will be stuffed with the participation of world-class athletes from all over the globe as this is the last pit stop before the year’s mega event
in Shanghai.
Park was expected to participate at the USA Grand Prix at Charlotte from May 12-15, but his participation was delayed by his coach, Michael Bohl. The two ferocious rivals, Tae-Hwan and Phelps will face each other in the Men’s 200m freestyle on June 18.
The silver medallist at the Beijing event failed to qualify for the 200m freestyle at the 2009 Rome World Championships, where he finished 13th in 1:46.68 minutes among 16 swimmers. However, the Korean star will be having an eye on the first spot
for the 200m and the 400m freestyle instead of his beloved event, the 1500m freestyle.
On the other side, Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing meet and with his dominating efforts, he also conquered the Indianapolis Grand Prix earlier this month. Park was only 1.89 seconds away from Phelps in the 200m freestyle where Phelps
made a new World Record for the event with a tremendous effort of 1:42.96 minutes. The record was then improved by Germany’s Paul Biedermann in 1:42.00 minutes at the 2009 World Championships.
Tags: