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Sun Yang

Sun Yang is a leading Chinese swimmer who has won Olympic and world titles. He is also a world record-holder. In 2012, he became the first Chinese man to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming, and is the first male swimmer in history to earn Olympic and World Championship gold medals at every freestyle distance from 200m to 1,500m. A three-time Olympic gold medalist and nine-time world champion, he is also the most decorated Chinese swimmer in history. Never far from controversy, Sun was banned for three months by the Chinese Swimming Association after testing positive for the then-stimulant trimetazidine in May 2014.

Born

1 Dec 1991

Industry

Sport

Job Title

Swimmer, Olympian

Cyclist Ceci Lee is Hong Kong’s newest sporting superstar after winning three gold medals at the National Games. Photo: Karma Lo

2025 National Games

National Games’ new generation set to shine at Asian Games, Olympics and beyond

Hong Kong’s Ceci Lee and Ryan Choi among a host of athletes who have taken the torch from the likes of Ma Long, Sun Yang and Pan Zhanle.

22 Nov 2025 - 12:31PM

2025 National Games

National Games: with 3 races to go, Zhang can already be crowned swimming king

15 Nov 2025 - 9:07PM

2025 National Games

Zhang, 18, beats Pan Zhanle, Sun Yang at National Games, but Pan wins relay gold

11 Nov 2025 - 1:04AM

2025 National Games

National Games: will Pan Zhanle return to world-record form or end year in flop?

Paris Olympic champion and holder of 100m world record has had a disappointing year so far, but thrives on proving doubters wrong.

10 Nov 2025 - 8:00AM

China’s Pan Zhanle won the 100m freestyle in world-record time at the Paris Olympics last year. Photo: AFP

2025 National Games

Powerhouse provinces: a rundown on the teams that dominate at National Games

Three teams have topped the medal table 11 times across the 14 editions of the event over 66 years, but one is no longer taking part.

9 Nov 2025 - 10:00AM

2025 National Games

Beyond Siobhan: Hong Kong’s best bets, China’s top threats at National Games

City’s main medal hope has barely competed this year, but there are other contenders who could spring a surprise against the mainland giants.

18 Oct 2025 - 9:00AM

Trending in China

Hunky Chinese coach has mothers flocking to enrol kids in swim classes

Young man asks people to refrain from sending him personal messages, as it has begun to affect his daily life.

18 Jul 2025 - 8:30PM

Swimming

China’s 12-year-old swimming star Yu Zidi set for Singapore after stunning week

Yu could be confirmed for World Aquatics Championships in July and August after her results at China’s national meet.

25 May 2025 - 1:50PM

Swimming

Haughey comeback gathers pace with second Mare Nostrum Swim Tour gold in Monaco

The Hongkonger takes victory in 100 metres freestyle, with two more legs of the tour to come this week.

19 May 2025 - 3:20PM

Swimming

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle wins first race with Sun Yang – but admits to nerves

Pan says he was ‘particularly nervous’ before winning battle of generations at Chinese National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen.

18 May 2025 - 6:15PM

Pan Zhanle had not raced at a high level in several months. Photo: Xinhua

Swimming

Pan Zhanle set to race Sun Yang as China’s Olympic swim stars head to Shenzhen

Paris champion Pan could meet Sun at national championships, with Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang also taking part.

15 May 2025 - 8:30AM

China’s Pan Zhanle clutches his Olympic 100m freestyle gold medal at the Paris La Defence Arena last July. Photo: dpa

2025 National Games

Sun Yang to compete at Chinese Spring National meet, paving way for National Games

Disgraced Olympic and world champion will in Qingdao next week compete for only second time since his four-year drug ban was lifted in 2024.

14 Mar 2025 - 5:10PMvideocam

Trending in China

Weibo users furious after reports highlight Sun Yang speed on return to the pool

In his first race after a serving a 4-year ban, the former world champion won the 400m freestyle in a time 8 seconds slower than the winning time at the Paris Olympics.

27 Aug 2024 - 12:44PM

Swimming

China’s Sun Yang wins 400m title hours after giving tearful poolside interview

Chinese social media users rush to support disgraced Olympian after first competitive race since 4-year drugs ban ended.

25 Aug 2024 - 7:09PM

Swimming

China’s Sun Yang returns to pool at high-level local meet after 4-year doping ban

The 32-year-old will represent his home Zhejiang province at the National Summer Swimming Championships, which start on Sunday.

21 Aug 2024 - 12:06PM

China’s Sun Yang will return to competitive action for the first time since his doping ban ended. Photo: Reuters

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Chinese social media slams swimmer Sun Yang as he misses Paris Olympics

Weibo hashtag ‘Sun Yang’s Olympic dream shattered’ passes 75 million views after the swimmer completes his ban for a doping violation.

16 Jul 2024 - 7:41AM

Swimming

‘China doping scandal should not dominate Olympics’ – world swimming champ’s worry

New Zealander Lewis Clareburt hopes his second Games will be remembered for the action in the pool as he bids for first Olympic medal.

1 May 2024 - 11:11PM

Swimming

Sun Yang says ‘difficulties’ of doping ban won’t deter him from Olympic comeback

Chinese swimming legend will be free to compete again in May, and insists he has been staying ready as he plots return at 32.

7 Sep 2023 - 2:38PM

China’s Sun Yang is the most decorated Chinese swimmer in history. Photo: AFP

Swimming

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang loses final appeal against doping ban

Swiss Federal Tribunal dismisses the three-time Olympic champion’s appeal against last year’s Court of Arbitration for Sport verdict.

4 Mar 2022 - 9:30PM

Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

How the drug found in Kamila Valieva’s sample boosts performance

The substance was added to Wada’s banned list in 2014, months before Sun tested positive for it, for which he served a three-month ban.

18 Feb 2022 - 2:33PM

Olympic champion Sun Yang sells US$7.8m worth of cosmetics in 2 days

With his swimming career on hold, Sun Yang is using his high-profile brand and personality to sell products online and fans are lapping it up.

17 Jan 2022 - 9:08PM

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has proved himself as a natural salesman after promoting cosmetics online. Photo: AFP

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Banned swimmer Sun Yang focused on glory at Paris 2024

Sun told fans during his 30th birthday celebration if he works hard, it is still possible to perform at his peak.

9 Dec 2021 - 7:28PM

Sun Yang celebrates his 30th birthday with fans at a hotel in Hangzhou. Photo: Handout

2021 National Games of China

Olympic swim champion Wang wins 15th National Games gold

Star swimmer eases to win in 200m individual medley in Xian to win sixth gold of 2021 Games.

25 Sep 2021 - 11:44AM

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Zhang matches Sun’s single Games record – and could still go one better

‘Butterfly Queen’ wins silver with mixed medley relay team before opting out of swim-off for 50m final spot but could yet be picked for 4x100m freestyle relay team and chance of fifth medal.

31 Jul 2021 - 7:04PMvideocam

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Explainer | Who are the top Chinese Olympians of all time? Part two

Which of China’s many Olympic legends rank among its greatest of all time?

5 Jul 2021 - 7:47PM

The great Sun Yang will surely go down in history as one of China’s greatest Olympians of all time. Photo: Reuters

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Sun Yang and Fina criticised in full CAS verdict

Panel calls China swimming star’s decision during disputed doping test ‘the wrong gamble to take’

3 Jul 2021 - 6:00PMvideocam

China's Sun Yang after completing a freestyle relay heat at the 2019 FINA Championships in South Korea. Photo: EPA

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Editorial | Sun Yang can look to 2024 for bittersweet vindication

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dashed the prospect of China’s most decorated swimmer competing at next month’s Tokyo Olympics but opened up the chance to compete at the Paris Games.

27 Jun 2021 - 12:42AM

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Forget Paris? Mixed reaction to Sun Yang ban as topic trends in China

Fans defend swimmer and point fingers, while others think halved suspension is fair result as news clocks up billions of reads on Chinese social media platforms.

24 Jun 2021 - 1:04PMvideocam

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Sun Yang

National Games’ new generation set to shine at Asian Games, Olympics and beyond

Hong Kong’s Ceci Lee and Ryan Choi among a host of athletes who have taken the torch from the likes of Ma Long, Sun Yang and Pan Zhanle.

National Games: with 3 races to go, Zhang can already be crowned swimming king

Zhang, 18, beats Pan Zhanle, Sun Yang at National Games, but Pan wins relay gold

National Games: will Pan Zhanle return to world-record form or end year in flop?

Paris Olympic champion and holder of 100m world record has had a disappointing year so far, but thrives on proving doubters wrong.

Powerhouse provinces: a rundown on the teams that dominate at National Games

Three teams have topped the medal table 11 times across the 14 editions of the event over 66 years, but one is no longer taking part.

Beyond Siobhan: Hong Kong’s best bets, China’s top threats at National Games

City’s main medal hope has barely competed this year, but there are other contenders who could spring a surprise against the mainland giants.

Hunky Chinese coach has mothers flocking to enrol kids in swim classes

Young man asks people to refrain from sending him personal messages, as it has begun to affect his daily life.

China’s 12-year-old swimming star Yu Zidi set for Singapore after stunning week

Yu could be confirmed for World Aquatics Championships in July and August after her results at China’s national meet.

Haughey comeback gathers pace with second Mare Nostrum Swim Tour gold in Monaco

The Hongkonger takes victory in 100 metres freestyle, with two more legs of the tour to come this week.

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle wins first race with Sun Yang – but admits to nerves

Pan says he was ‘particularly nervous’ before winning battle of generations at Chinese National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen.

Pan Zhanle set to race Sun Yang as China’s Olympic swim stars head to Shenzhen

Paris champion Pan could meet Sun at national championships, with Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang also taking part.

Sun Yang to compete at Chinese Spring National meet, paving way for National Games

Disgraced Olympic and world champion will in Qingdao next week compete for only second time since his four-year drug ban was lifted in 2024.

Weibo users furious after reports highlight Sun Yang speed on return to the pool

In his first race after a serving a 4-year ban, the former world champion won the 400m freestyle in a time 8 seconds slower than the winning time at the Paris Olympics.

China’s Sun Yang wins 400m title hours after giving tearful poolside interview

Chinese social media users rush to support disgraced Olympian after first competitive race since 4-year drugs ban ended.

China’s Sun Yang returns to pool at high-level local meet after 4-year doping ban

The 32-year-old will represent his home Zhejiang province at the National Summer Swimming Championships, which start on Sunday.

Chinese social media slams swimmer Sun Yang as he misses Paris Olympics

Weibo hashtag ‘Sun Yang’s Olympic dream shattered’ passes 75 million views after the swimmer completes his ban for a doping violation.

‘China doping scandal should not dominate Olympics’ – world swimming champ’s worry

New Zealander Lewis Clareburt hopes his second Games will be remembered for the action in the pool as he bids for first Olympic medal.

Sun Yang says ‘difficulties’ of doping ban won’t deter him from Olympic comeback

Chinese swimming legend will be free to compete again in May, and insists he has been staying ready as he plots return at 32.

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang loses final appeal against doping ban

Swiss Federal Tribunal dismisses the three-time Olympic champion’s appeal against last year’s Court of Arbitration for Sport verdict.

How the drug found in Kamila Valieva’s sample boosts performance

The substance was added to Wada’s banned list in 2014, months before Sun tested positive for it, for which he served a three-month ban.

Olympic champion Sun Yang sells US$7.8m worth of cosmetics in 2 days

With his swimming career on hold, Sun Yang is using his high-profile brand and personality to sell products online and fans are lapping it up.

Banned swimmer Sun Yang focused on glory at Paris 2024

Sun told fans during his 30th birthday celebration if he works hard, it is still possible to perform at his peak.

Olympic swim champion Wang wins 15th National Games gold

Star swimmer eases to win in 200m individual medley in Xian to win sixth gold of 2021 Games.

Zhang matches Sun’s single Games record – and could still go one better

‘Butterfly Queen’ wins silver with mixed medley relay team before opting out of swim-off for 50m final spot but could yet be picked for 4x100m freestyle relay team and chance of fifth medal.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | Who are the top Chinese Olympians of all time? Part two

Which of China’s many Olympic legends rank among its greatest of all time?

Sun Yang and Fina criticised in full CAS verdict

Panel calls China swimming star’s decision during disputed doping test ‘the wrong gamble to take’

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Editorial | Sun Yang can look to 2024 for bittersweet vindication

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dashed the prospect of China’s most decorated swimmer competing at next month’s Tokyo Olympics but opened up the chance to compete at the Paris Games.

Forget Paris? Mixed reaction to Sun Yang ban as topic trends in China

Fans defend swimmer and point fingers, while others think halved suspension is fair result as news clocks up billions of reads on Chinese social media platforms.

Explainer | Who are the top Chinese Olympians of all time? Part two

Editorial | Sun Yang can look to 2024 for bittersweet vindication