Asian Games: is Sun Yang’s Michael Jordan-esque cover-up a protest or compromise? – Chinese social media is lapping it up
The China swimming superstar covered the sponsor’s logo on his official uniform with the national flag after being criticised for an earlier infringement
The 26-year-old Sun is caught between two sponsors – Anta, which is the Chinese delegation’s official sponsor, and his own 361° brand. After winning the Asian Games 800m men’s freestyle event on Monday, Sun came out for the medal ceremony in the bright yellow colours of his personal sponsor.
Later in the evening, during the ceremony for the men’s 4x200m men’s relay – in which China finished second – Sun was wearing the official uniform but he covered the white top with the Chinese flag, looking at times like a brooding red batman without the cowl.
One mainland media outlet compared Sun’s action to that of former NBA legend Michael Jordan. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Jordan covered himself in the US flag to obscure the team’s official sponsor, Reebok, because he was backed by Nike.