Asian Games: China swimmer Sun Yang cries and social media cries with him after a triumphant, draining and emotional week
The 26-year-old, three-time Olympic champion has overcome injury and controversy to emerge as the star of men’s swimming in Jakarta
China’s swimming superstar Sun Yang comes across as arrogant and condescending to his detractors but the three-time Olympic champion showed a softer, more poignant side as he cried on the shoulder of a mainland reporter after winning his fourth individual gold medal at the Asian Games.
And many fans on social media cried with him.
CCTV footage showed an exhausted and emotional Sun bursting into tears and hugging the journalist soon after winning the men’s 1,500 metres – his favourite event – at the Aquatic Centre in Jakarta on Friday, adding to the golds he won in the 200m, 800m and 400m as well as silvers in two relays.
Sun Yang cries after losing to Mack Horton at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Suffering from a bad back that has had him receiving treatment sometimes until 2am in the morning this week, Sun swept the middle and long distance swimming events at a major games for the first time in his career.
“I took part in [an extra] relay and I was very tired,” said the 26-year-old Sun, a three-time Olympic gold medallist who was given a surprise call-up for the 4x100m relay. “Today the back was especially painful. It really depends on your determination.