ASIA: Sun Yang Breaks Tie with Peirsol, Hackett for 3rd Highest Number of Worlds Titles

2017 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sun Yang‘s victory in tonight’s 400 free was a redeeming point for him after he lost the event to Australia’s Mack Horton last summer. On day 1 in Budapest, he took off and never looked back in the final, leading from start to finish with a dominant 3:41.38. Horton was over a body length back in 3:43.85 for silver.

Tonight’s win was historic for Sun as it makes him the solo 3rd most decorated performer ever in terms of men’s World Championships gold medals, breaking the former tie he shared with Aaron Peirsol (7) and Grant Hackett (7). His 400 free victory gave him his 8th career World Championships title.

Sun Yang‘s Career World Championship Titles:

  • 2011- 800 free, 1500 free
  • 2013- 400 free, 800 free, 1500 free
  • 2015- 400 free, 800 free
  • 2017- 400 free

Sun has now won 3 consecutive titles in the 400 free, and could make it 3 consecutive titles in the 800 free if he’s able to top the field later in the meet.

Winningest Men’s Swimmers in World Championships History

There were only a handful of events tonight in which the finals round was contested, so there isn’t much to put on the medal table right now. The only other Asian medalist tonight was China’s Li Bingjie, who put up a 4:03.25 to take bronze in the women’s 400 free final. That means China is the only Asian country to medal through day 1 finals.

DAY 1 RECORDS – ASIA:

  • Men’s 50 Fly Prelims: Joseph Schooling (SIN), Asian Record, 23.05
  • Men’s 50 Fly Prelims: Joseph Schooling (SIN), Singaporean Record, 23.05
  • Men’s 50 Fly Semifinals: Joseph Schooling (SIN), Asian Record, 22.93
  • Men’s 50 Fly Semifinals: Joseph Schooling (SIN), Asian Record, 22.93
  • Men’s 400 Free Relay: Japan (Nakamura, Shiuora, Matsumoto, Koga), Japanese Record, 3:13.65

DAY 1 MEDAL TABLE – ASIA:

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
China 1 0 1 2

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Chris Plack
6 years ago

He has a great chance to win the 200 and 800 too.

SUN Tokyo 2020!

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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