FACTBOX-Olympics-Swimming-Gold medallist Park Tae-hwan

Aug 10 (Reuters) - Factbox on swimmer Park Tae-hwan (South
Korea) who won the Olympic gold medal in the 400m freestyle on
Sunday.

Age: 18 (date of birth: Sep 27, 1989)

Place of birth: Seoul, South Korea

Career achievements:

Gold medallist, 400m freestyle at 2007 World Championships
and 2006 Pan Pacific Championships

Gold medallist, 1500m freestyle at 2006 Pan Pacific
Championships

Silver medallist, 200m freestyle at 2006 Pan Pacific
Championships

Bronze medallist, 200m freestyle at 2007 World
Championships.

Previous Olympic result:

Disqualified for an illegal start in 400m freestyle at 2004
Olympics

Park suffered from asthma as a child and started the sport
at the age of five because it was recommended by a doctor who
believed it could improve his condition. He was the youngest
Korean participant in the 2004 Olympics. He was so upset after
his disqualification he hid in the bathroom for two hours.
(Compiled by Nigel Hunt, Editing by Padraic Halpin)
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