Sun Yang breezes 200m semi-final as fallout from feud with Mack Horton continues

Chinese swimming superstar Sun Yang made it through to the final of the men’s 200m freestyle final at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, on Monday evening. He had gone through the heats earlier in the day in front of cheering fans before finishing second to Australia’s Clyde Lewis in the semi. Lewis swam a personal best. Qualifying gives Sun the chance to add to the 400m free gold he won on Sunday, his fourth consecutive world title in that event, with a first 200m worlds gold. That victory proved controversial after his long-time rival, Australian swimmer Mack Horton, refused to share the podium with the Chinese swimmer and did not shake his hand. Horton also refused to pose for photos with Sun, but did pose with bronze medallist Gabriele Detti of Italy. It did not go down well with Sun. “It was unfortunate because disrespecting me is OK but disrespecting China was very unfortunate and I felt sorry about that,” he said. The Guardian reported that Horton was given a standing ovation by fellow swimmers on his return to the athletes village on Sunday night, as revealed by American swimmer Lilly King. Horton’s former teammate David McKeon praised the silver medallist for taking a stand. “Absolutely awesome to see @_mackhorton protesting clean sport by not getting up on the podium next to Sun Yang,” he wrote on Twitter. However, not everyone has praised the Australian who beat Sun to the 400m gold in Rio in 2016. Chinese swimming fans leapt to the defence of their idol. Absolutely awesome to see @_mackhorton protesting clean sport by not getting up on the podium next to Sun Yang #cleansport pic.twitter.com/6WFJ8LhV8H — David McKeon (@DavoMcKeon) July 21, 2019 Some even sent death threats to Horton and his girlfriend via social media, as reported by the Daily Mail. Fans posted vile abuse on his Instagram account, going back to photos from 2017. The long-standing feud between the swimmers dates back to a splashing incident in the practice pool in Rio, where Sun was accused of trying to put off his rival. Unless the doping controversy engulfs him, you'd have to say Sun Yang has really won his long rivalry with Mack Horton. He just keeps winning. https://t.co/ACsRKgYom9 — Bill Birtles (@billbirtles) July 21, 2019 “I ignored him, I don't have time or respect for drug cheats,” Horton said at the time. Horton later said, “I just have a problem with athletes who have tested positive and are still competing.” These 2016 comments were ill received in China where Sun is regarded as a national hero and Horton’s social media was besieged with negative comments. Expect some angry Chinese folks on Twitter tomorrow. Sun Yang disrespected by longtime Australian rival Mack Horton after they finished 1-2 in the 400m free. Horton: "I just won't share a podium with someone who behaves in the way he does." https://t.co/0NSpkMQHYp — Mark Dreyer (@DreyerChina) July 21, 2019 Since then Horton has largely kept quiet about Sun but the Chinese swimmer’s coach removed him from a practice lane next to Horton in the South Korean practice pool last week. Horton spoke on Sunday, and was asked how he felt after the disappointment of silver. “Frustration is probably it. I think you know in what respect,” he said. “I don't think I need to say anything. His actions and how it has been handled speaks louder than anything I could say.” Who is Sun Yang’s arch rival Mack Horton, the Australian swimmer who refused the podium? Sun is awaiting a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport where he will find out whether he will be punished for his actions in refusing an out of competition doping test at his home in Zhejiang last year. He has been allowed to compete while awaiting the hearing, something that is said to have upset Horton among other swimmers. Fina decided not to punish Sun for smashing vials of blood with a hammer on a technicality but Wada appealed that. If found guilty the swimmer, who served a 2014 drugs ban in secret, faces a possible lifetime ban from the pool.