August 03, 2008

S Korean Park wins men's 400m freestyle Olympic gold

Park Tae-hwan of South Koera celebrates victory during men’s 400 freestyle final of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Aquatics Center in Beijing, China, August 10, 2008. Park won the gold medal in the event.(Xinhua/Chen Kai)

BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- South Korean swimming prodigy Park Taehwan realized his dream to win the men's 400m freestyle gold medal at the Olympics here on Sunday.

Park clocked in 3:41.86 to top the podium, China's Zhang Lin got the silver in 3:42.44 and American Larsen Jensen finished third in 3:42.78.

Park wore a headphone before starting his race and seemed to be totally focused on what he was about to achieve. The 19-year-old swam close to Australia's Grant Hackett in the first two laps and began taking over Hackett at 150 meters. He maintained the lead and coasted to win his first Olympic gold.

"This (the gold) was what I'm going after. I lagged behind in the first two laps, but I knew my pace and that I was going to catch up," he said.

"Although the weather was not good today, it was a truly nice day for me," he said.

Dubbed as nation's little brother, Park is the event's world champion and a hugely popular athlete in his country. He will also swim in 200 and 1,500 meters freestyle races.

Australia's Hackett slipped to the sixth at 3:43.84. "I guess it wasn't what I was looking for. It would have been nice to be on the medal podium," Hackett said.

"I probably would have gone out harder, but I didn't want to kill myself," he said.

Park Tae-hwan of South Koera celebrates victory during men's 400m freestyle final of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Aquatics Center in Beijing, China, August 10, 2008. Park won the gold medal in the event.(Xinhua/Chen Kai Photo)

Members of Netherlandish swimming team celebrate victory after women's 4 x 100m freestyle relay final of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Aquatics Center in Beijing, China, August 10, 2008. Netherlandish swimming team won the gold medal in the event. (Xinhua/Ding Xu) (Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Ducth quartet Inge Dekker, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Femke Heemskerk and Marleen Veldhuis lit the pool on fire in Bejing on Sunday and won the gold in the women's 4X100 freestyle relay.

The foursome embraced each other in jubilation after completing the swim in three minutes 33.76 seconds, shaving almost one second off the previous record set by Australia in Athens.

The United States ranked second. Athens champion Australia, after a slow start, fought to the bronze.

The Ducth ranked seventh after the first leg. Kromowidjojo bridged the gap and stormed to the second after her turn. Heemskerk edged German swimmer Daniela Gotz to the first and Veldhuis kept the lead to the finish.

German team, who was in the lead after the first two legs, was overtaken in the third leg and edged to the fifth. Enditem

Guo Wenjun of China competes at the women's 10m air pistol final of shooting at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008. Guo won the gold medal in this event. (Xinhua/Bao Feifei) (Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Guo Wenjun won the women's air pistol gold medal with 492.3 points at the Olympic Games, a new Olympic record, on Sunday.

Natalia Paderina of Russia picked the silver in 489.1 points.

The bronze medal went to Nino Salukvadze of Georgia who scored 487.4 points.

Guo Wenjun of China attends the women's 10m air pistol qualification of shooting at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008. Guo ranked the second and entered the final of this event. (Xinhua/Bao Feifei)

Guo Wenjun of China listens to Wang Yifu, the head coach of Chinese shooting team, during the women's 10m air pistol qualification of shooting at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008. Guo ranked the second and entered the final of this event. (Xinhua/Bao Feifei)

Guo Wenjun of China celebrates her victory after winning the women's 10m air pistol final of shooting at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008. Guo won the gold medal in this event.

US President George W. Bush (R) and his wife Laura Bush watch the first day of the swimming finals at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing. [Agencies]

US President George W. Bush holds a flag as he watches the first day of the swimming finals at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing. [Agencies]

US President George W. Bush, and his daughter Barbara watch the first day of the swimming finals at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing. [Agencies]

US President George W. Bush playfully hugs US Women's Softball Team player Laura Berg at the Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 9, 2008. [Agencies]

Former US president George Bush shares a laugh with Gabriel Sabharwal during the medal ceremony of the women's individual sabre on August 9, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention Center in Beijing, as part of the of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. [Agencies]

US President George W. Bush talks to the press, during a drizzle, next to the children choir after attending a church service at the Beijing Kuanjie Protestant Christian Church in Beijing, China, August 10, 2008. [Agencies]

US President George W. Bush (R) hugs US Women's Beach Volleyball team player Kerri Walsh for good luck while visiting the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Grounds at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 9, 2008. [Agencies]

Mariel Zagunis (R) Sada Jacobson (L) and Becca Ward of the US pose with former US president George H. Bush after winning gold, silver and bronze respectively, in the women's individual sabre fencing competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 9, 2008. [Agencies]

This photo taken on August 8, 2008 shows US President George W. Bush (C) being watched by his wife Laura (L) as he shakes hands with the Chinese President Hu Jintao before a reception in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. [Agencies]

Zhang Lin (Front) of China celebrates during the awarding ceremony of the men's 400m freestyle at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008. Zhang won the silver medal in the event with 3 minutes 42.44 seconds. (Xinhua/Fan Jun)

BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's Zhang Lin won the silver medal of men's 400m free style at the Beijing Olympic Games on Sunday.

Gold medalist Park Taehwan of the Republic of Korea (C), silver medalist Zhang Lin of China (L) and bronze medalist Larsen Jensen of the United States pose on the podium at the awarding ceremony of the men's 400m freestyle at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008. Park won the gold medal in the event with 3 minutes 41.86 seconds. (Xinhua/Fan Jun)

US swimmer Michael Phelps poses on the podium after the men's 400m individual medley swimming medal ceremony at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing.[Agencies]

US swimmer Michael Phelps celebrates after the men's 400m individual medley swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing.[Agencies]

Michael Phelps of the U.S. celebrates after winning the men's 400m individual medley swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 10, 2008.[Agencies]

Michael Phelps of the US celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 400m individual medley swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 10, 2008.[Agencies]

US swimmer Michael Phelps celebrates victory after the men's 400m individual medley swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing. Phelps won in a world record time of 4:03.84.[Agencies]

US swimmer Michael Phelps celebrates victory after the men's 400m individual medley swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing.

Australia's Stephanie Rice celebrates after winning the women's 400m individual medley swimming final at the National Aquatics Center in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing. Stephanie Rice of Australia broke the world record in the women's 400 metres individual medley in a time of four minutes 29.45 seconds at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday. [Agencies]

Australia's Stephanie Rice competes during the women's 400m individual medley swimming final at the National Aquatics Center in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing. [Agencies]

Australia's Stephanie Rice reacts after winning the women's 400m individual medley swimming final at the National Aquatics Center in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing. [Agencies]

U.S. President George W. Bush plays beach volleyable with an athelet of the U.S. women's beach volleyball team in Chaoyang, Beijing, Aug. 9, 2008. Bush arrived in Beijing on Aug. 7 to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and other events. (Photo: chinanews.com)

U.S. President George W. Bush pose with an athelet of the U.S. women's beach volleyball team in Chaoyang, Beijing, Aug. 9, 2008. (Photo: chinanews.com)

U.S. President George W. Bush talks to athelets of the U.S. women's beach volleyball team in Chaoyang, Beijing, Aug. 9, 2008. (Photo: chinanews.com)

U.S. President George W. Bush talks to an athelet of the U.S. women's beach volleyball team in Chaoyang, Beijing, Aug. 9, 2008. (Photo: chinanews.com)

U.S. President George W. Bush pose with athelets of the U.S. women's beach volleyball team in Chaoyang, Beijing, Aug. 9, 2008. (Photo: chinanews.com)

China's rider Alex Hua Tian rides on his horse "Chico" during eventing dressage competition held at the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) in the Olympic co-host city of Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 9, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

HONG KONG, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Alex Hua Tian made history on Saturday evening as he rode confidently on his horse Chico into the Olympic dressage arena in Hong Kong, drawing applause from over 10,000 spectators at the Shatin Equestrian Venue.

Hua was the first Chinese rider ever to compete in Olympic equestrian events, and contributed a key part to China's attending all the 28 major sport categories, too. At the age of 18, the Eton College student was the youngest FEI (International Equestrian Federation)-registered rider to have gone through the four-star level.

Hua managed to signal for Chico to perform elegantly, although the German horse was a bit shy at first.

(China's rider Alex Hua Tian rides on his horse "Chico" during eventing dressage competition held at the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) in the Olympic co-host city of Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 9, 2008.Xinhua Photo)

Michael Phelps of America celebrates victory after the men's 400m individual medley final of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Aquatics Center in Beijing, China, August 10, 2008. Michael Phelps won in a world record time of 4:03.84. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)

BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps Sunday defended his Olympic title in the men's 400 meters individual medley with a new world record.

Phelps stormed to touch the wall first with a time of four minutes 3.84 seconds, shaving 1.41 seconds off his own world record set at the Olympic swimming trials in July.

Hungarian Laszlo Cseh won silver in 4:06.16. Phelps's teammate, Ryan Lochte, who is seen as a consistent silver medalist in his competition against Phelps, was edged to the third place.

"It's a tough race the whole way through. That's a pretty emotional race," Phelps said after the race. "It wasn't comfortable in a close race the first 200 meters, but my breaststroke is stronger."

Phelps, known as the "Baltimore Bullet", is expected to break Mark Spitz's record of seven golds at a single Summer Games. At the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, he became the only swimmer to set five world records at one international event.

U.S. President George W. Bush was present at the Water Cube, cheering up for the American swimmers.

Donning a sky blue blouse, Bush watched intently at the race. He stood up in cheers when Phelps started his charge with the freestyle, waving an American national flag.

Bush's coming obviously cheered Phelps up. "To have president coming watch is pretty cool. I looked up and saw him waved the flag. That's pretty cool to have the president say congratulations," Phelps said.

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps Sunday defended his Olympic title in the men's 400-meter individual medley with a new world record.(Xinhua/Chen Kai Photo)

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps Sunday defended his Olympic title in the men's 400-meter individual medley with a new world record. (Xinhua/Chen Kai Photo)

U.S. President George W. Bush(second row R2) and his wife Laura Bush(second row L2), Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (third row R1) watch swimming competition of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Aquatics Center in Beijing, China, August 10, 2008. (Xinhua/Wang Dingchang)

olympic spirit

S Korean Park wins men's 400m freestyle Olympic gold

Netherlands wins gold in women's 4X100 freestyle relay

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China's Zhang Lin wins silver medal of men's 400m free style

Phelps celebrates his first gold

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Phelps wins first swimming gold with world record

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