Heat rises in swim feud
Horton stance ‘disrespectful’ to China, says Sun
SUN Yang has dramatically raised the stakes in his bitter feud with Mack Horton by threatening to turn their explosive fallout at the world swimming championships into an international incident.
Sun was left fuming when Horton refused to share the podium with him after he beat the Australian to win the gold medal in the 400m freestyle and has accused him of disrespecting the whole of China.
“I was aware that the Australian athlete had dissatisfaction and personal feelings towards me,” Sun said.
“But it was unfortunate because disrespecting me is OK but disrespecting China was very unfortunate and I felt sorry about that.”
China and Australia engaged in a bitter war of words three years ago when Horton called Sun a drug cheat during the Rio Olympics after he’d secretly served a three-month suspension after testing positive to a banned stimulant.
Horton was inundated with thousands of hateful messages from Sun’s fanatical Chinese supporters while the Chinese swimming federation and state-run media demanded an apology from Australia.
Sun escaped punishment after destroying one of his own doping samples last year before it could be tested for drugs. The doping panel that investigated Sun cleared him of any wrongdoing but the World Anti-Doping Agency has lodged an appeal that will be heard in September.
British Olympic champion Adam Peaty and American Rio gold medallist Lily King have questioned why Sun is being allowed to compete.
“I support clean sport and I support swimmers standing up for their beliefs,” said Australian sprint queen Cate Campbell, who has a vocal campaigner for tougher sanctions against athletes who break the rules.
Australian head coach Jacco Verhaeren said he had no idea that Horton was going to protest but said he had the full backing of the team.