Park Tae Hwan clinches Men’s 400m freestyle gold: Day one – 2012 NSW State Open Championships
Olympic champion and South Korean veteran, Park Tae Hwan served notice of his talent by clinching gold medal of the Men’s 400m freestyle on initial day of the 2012 New South Wales (NSW) State Open Championships at the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre on Friday,
February 10.
Tae Hwan, who captured the crown of 400m event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and then accomplished the same at 2011 Shanghai World Championships, sustained his fastest qualification spot and upset his rivals.
Just like the qualifying rounds, the 22-year-old Tae Hwan proved ascendancy over his competitors from the start. He demonstrated his gruelling efforts and completed first round with a wonderful timing of 54.12 seconds. He was trailed by 19-year-old David
McKeon, who covered the same distance with an effort of 54.50 seconds.
The same continued in second round, where Tae Hwan made no mistake and continued his astonishing pace. With his persistent efforts, he extended his lead to almost one second and completed his first half with an effort of 1 minute and 51.66 seconds. He remained
1.06 seconds ahead of McKeon, who enveloped the same distance by posting 1 minute and 52.72 seconds.
The Olympic star defied all struggles of his subsequent swimmer in the next round and completed his 300 metres of the race by posting a time of 2 minutes and 48.94 seconds. With his phenomenal effort, he stayed nearly two seconds faster from McKeon, who
ended equivalent distance with a timing of 2 minutes and 50.80 seconds.
Tae Hwan displayed his extraordinary skills in the final round and cemented his place on the medal rostrum for gold medal by hitting the wall with an effort of 3 minutes and 45.57 seconds.
He remained nearly three seconds away from his subsequent competitor, McKeon, who claimed silver medal of the race by posting a time of 3 minutes and 48.20 seconds. The third spot was secured by Matthew Stanley as he clocked a time of 3 minutes and 50.81
seconds.
Furthermore, the championship will continue for two more days and will conclude on February 12 after the conclusion of all swimming events.
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