Sun at center of row after chest pain pullout
Print Edition
CHINA’S world record-holder and Olympic champion Sun Yang confirmed his shock withdrawal from Sunday’s world championship 1,500 meters freestyle final was down to a heart problem.
The 23-year-old said he made the decision to pull out shortly before being called to the Kazan pool having felt unwell during the warm-up.
Sun, who also found himself Sunday at the center of claims he was involved in a physical confrontation with a female Brazilian swimmer, explained he started feeling problems with his heart after retaining his 800 freestyle title on Wednesday.
The same problem in his chest returned while he warmed up for Sunday’s 1,500 final.
“First of all, I am very sorry that I couldn’t swim the 1,500 final,” he told a press conference. “After the 800 competition, I didn’t feel well in my heart. I felt uncomfortable in the warm-up tonight so I had to give up the idea of competing.”
Withdrawal meant Sun missed out on repeating his 2013 sweep of the 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyle world titles having already won last Sunday’s 400 final.
Sun courted controversy in 2014 after it emerged he had served a three-month doping ban for taking a banned stimulant.
The Chinese giant says it is the first time he has been affected like this and he wants to get to the bottom of the problem as quickly as possible. He said he will be seeking medical advice as soon as he gets home.
“Yes, this is the first time I have felt uncomfortable with my heart in competition,” he said as Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri won the 1,500 title in his absence.
Meanwhile, Sun gave a “no comment” to reports that he was involved in a physical altercation with Brazilian swimmer Larissa Oliveira in the warm-up pool on Sunday morning.
Several swimmers confirmed there was a heated exchange while reports in Brazil’s media claimed Sun elbowed Oliveira.
Brazil men’s coach Alberto Silva said he complained to officials of world governing body FINA, and they spoke to a Chinese team official. “(The Chinese) came to the Brazilians and said sorry. That’s it,” said Silva.
As Sun left it until the very last minute to withdraw from Sunday’s race, his lane remained empty as FINA had no time to call up reserve Pal Joensen of the Faroe Islands.
“I made the decision by myself and didn’t tell my coaches. As I said I am very sorry,” said Sun, who was named best male swimmer in Kazan by FINA.
Sun’s rivals were shocked by the strange turn of events.
“The judges were going crazy yelling, ‘Where’s Sun Yang? Where’s Sun Yang?’” Paltrinieri said. “It was insane.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
