War in the water, part II: Sun Yang and Rio conqueror Mack Horton set to clash once more at World Championships
Chinese team captain has fastest time of the year as he seeks revenge over Australian, who called him a drug cheat and then took his Olympic crown
Controversial Chinese swimmer Sun Yang and outspoken Aussie rival Mack Horton will lock horns for the first since their Olympic spat in Rio last year at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest next week.
The pair traded insults in Rio last August, with Horton calling Sun a drug cheat and the Chinese superstar responding that the Australian was using dirty tricks to try to put him off his game.
It worked as Sun’s aura was burst, losing the gold medal by a split second to Horton in the 400 metres freestyle final. The bad blood continued to flow afterwards and Sun broke down in tears.
“I used the word[s] drug cheat because he was tested positive,” Horton said before the race, and repeated the accusation with the gold medal around his neck.
“I just have a problem with him testing positive and still competing.”
The accusations centred on a three-month doping ban Sun served secretly in 2014, for taking a banned stimulant that he said was for a heart complaint.