YONHAP NEWS

(LEAD) Park Tae-hwan eliminated after first round of 400m preliminary

ROME, July 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's defending world champion of the 400-meter men's freestyle, Park Tae-hwan, failed to reach the final round at the World Championships here in Rome Sunday as he was eliminated after the preliminary round.

The 20-year-old was unable to make the final round of eight as he finished 12th at 3:46:04 in the preliminary round.

Park won gold in the 400m men's freestyle at last year's Beijing Summer Olympics.

   He is set to compete against the reigning world swimming champion Michael Phelps of the United States for gold in the 200m men's freestyle Monday.

   Park had won silver in the 200m event at the Beijing Olympics where the U.S. swimmer grabbed the gold.

   Park expressed disappointment with the day's performance, pointing to his failure to maintain his pace as the main reason for the early elimination.

   "I had planned to lead the race from early on, but my pacing was a little late," he told reporters.

   "Whether I made it or not, I did my best. I was as shocked as those who watched the race. It is disappointing," Park said.

   The South Korean will also compete in the 1500m freestyle, to be held Aug. 2, the last day of the Swimming World Championships in Italy.

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