Star swimmer Park Tae-hwan won two medals on the final day of the swimming competitions at the Incheon Asian Games 2014.
At the eponymous Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Center, Park participated in the men’s 1,500 meter freestyle and medley relays. Park came fourth in the 1,500-meter race, but won a bronze in the medley relay, attaining his 20th medal in Asian Games matches. In the Incheon Games alone, he has received one silver and five bronze medals.



Prior to the match, media attention and audience focus was on whether Park would win the most medals of any Korean athlete at the Asian Games. Park failed to win a medal in the 1,500 meter freestyle, where mainland Chinese Sun Yang, Park’s key competitor, won gold. The Chinese swimmer made a grand gesture to the audience when he encouraged them to give Park a big round of applause, though the Chinese crowd in the stands was cheering for Sun’s victory.

Park responded to the crowd by winning bronze in the men's 200 meter freestyle and 400 meter freestyle, and thereby becoming the most decorated Korean athlete at these Asian Games.



However, the highlight of the day was neither the medals awarded nor Park’s new record.
After the medal ceremony for the medley relay, Park posed for photos along with fellow Korean athletes Choi Kyuwoong, Chang Gyucheol and Park Seonkwan. Sun Yang approached Park and an announcement came over the air. “Tomorrow, September 27, is Park Tae-hwan’s birthday. Sun Yang prepared a cake to celebrate,” the announcement ran. One of the Incheon Games volunteers then showed up with a birthday cake.





Sun Yang asked his mother, who has been staying in Seoul, to prepare a birthday cake for Park. Sun surprised the Korean swimmer with the cake and card. The card read, “Tae-hwan! Happy Birthday!” The audience gave them both a standing ovation in honor of the friendship that exists between the two athletes, both of whom have been each other's main rivals for some time.

“I never expected that Sun would offer me a cake. I feel really happy. This is a first-time experience at the arena, which make me feel as if all the Chinese and Japanese athletes are celebrating my birthday,” said Park.

“I’m happy that Sun has helped to give me a good memory. I am very thankful to him.”

Article by Jeon Han, Yoon Sojung
Photos: Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
hanjeon@korea.kr