Nerves hit Korean swim sensation Park

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

SEOUL (AFP) — Before he enters the pool in competitions, South Korea's young swimming sensation Park Tae-Hwan likes to listen to pop music on oversized headphones to block out the crowd noise.

That's how he deals with pre-race jitters. And he needs as much music as he can get right now.

Park's head coach, Noh Min-Sang, told AFP that the 18-year-old is feeling the pressure and he is "trying to be the bad cop" for him, turning down interview requests and shielding him from the public's eyes.

"Park seems really burdened by the expectations," Noh said.

"The kid is only 18. It doesn't do him any good when everyone is expecting an Olympic gold."

Whether he likes it or not, there is little question that Park is the best hope for Korea's first-ever...