LONDON (AP) — South Korea has filed a protest of defending champion Park Tae-hwan’s disqualification in the 400-meter freestyle event on the opening day of the Olympic swimming competition.
Swimming governing body FINA tells The Associated Press that Park was disqualified for a false start by a judge on the pool deck.
The 22-member FINA Bureau has been convened for a jury of appeal to decide the case.
Park had won his heat but was then bewildered when told of the disqualification, saying he needed to ask his coach what happened.
Sun Yang of China led the heats, while Ryan Cochrane of Canada took the last qualifying position in eighth. If Park is reinstated, Cochrane could miss out on the final later Saturday.
