CHINA’S SUN, FRANKLIN STRIKE GOLDS
Barcelona, July 29: China’s Sun Yang proved he has few peers in the distance freestyle events on Sunday, while US star Missy Franklin claimed the first of what could be eight golds at swimming’s world championships.
The 21- year- old Sun won the world men’s 400m freestyle gold to complete the set of major titles in the event, 12 months after winning the Olympic crown.
Just as he did in the London 2012 final, the 21- year- old Chinese dominated early on in Barcelona to add the 400m world title to the 800m and 1500m freestyle golds he won two years ago in Shanghai.
“The 400m is a very important event and I completed my goal,” said Sun, who has moved to Hong Kong in the wake of a fallout he had concerning his girlfriend, an air stewardess, with his previous coach. “I overcame many problems and proved myself, I hope to have an even better performance in my other events,” he said.
Sun clocked 3min 41.59sec, finishing more than three seconds ahead of the field, to cap a bright start on the first of the eight- day long championships for China as Ye Shiwen eased into Monday’s women’s 200m individual medley final.
Defending champion Ye was the second quickest qualifier, just over half a second behind Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, the fastest out of Sunday’s 200m IM semi- finals.
The USA claimed two world titles on Sunday as 16- year- old Katie Ledecky just missed the women’s 400m freestyle world record on her way to winning gold.