Park Tae-hwan's Mother Reveals Reason for His Swimming Career on 'The Taste of Brothers'

On the latest episode of KBS2's 'The Taste of Brothers,' Olympic swimmer Park Tae-hwan's mother shared the touching story behind his start in the sport.

During the 'Mom's Hand Special,' which coincided with the Chuseok holiday, Park's mother reminisced about his childhood. "He was a mischievous child," she recalled, adding, "I was worried his pretty looks might mean he wouldn't be suited for sports. But hearing that swimming was good for weak lungs due to colds, I decided to encourage him."

Park Tae-hwan humorously confessed, "I actually didn't like swimming much back then and even tried to run away." His mother continued, "At first, I had to push him, but looking back, it was the best decision I ever made." Host Boom praised her, stating, "Your mother is truly amazing."

Park Tae-hwan, who became the youngest national swimming team member in his third year of middle school, went on to achieve world-class success, including Olympic and World Championship gold medals. His mother treasures a "little dolphin medal" from a kindergarten competition, which she believes gave him his first taste of success and confirmed his path. Park Tae-hwan himself cherishes this medal as his very first, making it deeply meaningful.

Park Tae-hwan is a celebrated South Korean competitive swimmer and Olympic gold medalist in the men's 400-meter freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Nicknamed the 'Marine Boy,' he became a national icon for his achievements in the sport. Following his retirement from professional swimming, Park has remained active in public life through various media appearances.