South Korean swimming star Park Tae-hwan arrived in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics on Sunday, hoping for a shot at redemption after a tumultuous build-up to his fourth Summer Games.

The 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 400m freestyle wrapped up his two-week training camp in Orlando, Florida, and arrived at Santos Dumont Airport on Sunday afternoon here. The Rio Olympics will kick off Friday, and Park's first race, the 400m free, is set for the following day.

"I had great training in Florida," Park told reporters. "I think I will feel better and better as I continue to work out."

Park only secured his Olympic spot on July 8, after winning a long, drawn-out legal battle with the Korean Olympic Committee over its ban on the swimmer based on his doping history.

Park had served an 18-month ban that began retroactively in September 2014 and ended in March this year. The KOC instituted a rule in 2014 banning athletes from representing the country for three years after the completion of their doping suspension, but Park challenged the rule at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The world's top sports tribunal sided with the swimmer and made him eligible for Rio.

"The situation today is different from the London Olympics, and I am going to try to enjoy myself," he said. "I'll just relax and not feel any pressure about the placement."

After winning gold in the 400m free in 2008, Park won silver in 2012. He was initially disqualified in the heat for a false start but was reinstated for the final.

Park also boasts two world titles in that distance but said he's not thinking about people's expectations this time.

In between his suspension and his legal issues, Park has managed to get in just two competitions this year: the Olympic team trials in April and a small international meet in Australia in June.

Park's best 400m time of 2016, 3:44.26 set at the Olympic trials, is the sixth-fastest mark in the world this season.

The 26-year-old will also enter the 100m, 200m and 1,500m freestyle. (Yonhap)