China’s Sun Yang Confirms Quad-Event World Championships Program

Olympic champion-turned doping offender, Sun Yang from China, has confirmed his event schedule for the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan.  The Chinese freestyle specialist says he will be competing in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events.

Sun is the current World Record holder in the men’s 1500 meter freestyle and won four medals (including two golds) at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.  But his legacy has been recently overshadowed by a 2014 doping situation, of which many critics consider having been dealt with in a shady and secretive manner. Sun tested positive for a specified stimulant at the Chinese National Championships and was quietly given a three-month suspension that was expired in time for him to compete and win gold in the 400 and 1500 meter individual freestyles, and the 400 free relay at the Asian Games in late September 2014.

Looking ahead to Kazan, Sun says of his quad-event program, “I don’t expect to win all four titles, but I do have something in my mind and you will know it at the competition.”

Sun is currently ranked in the world’s top 10 in all four races, and within the top 5 in three of them.  Sun’s 200m freestyle time of 1:45.75 is 2nd only to Germany’s Paul Biedermann, while on Australia’s Mack Horton has topped his 7:47.58 800m freestyle for 2015.  Sun is SwimSwam.com’s pick for gold in the 400m freestyle event in Kazan.

Sun does have attrition on his side in the 200m event, as top Frenchman Yannick Agnel has had to pull out due to illness and Asian rival Park Tae-Hwan is currently serving his own doping ban.  However, Sun reiterates that there will still “be some top swimmers taking part in Worlds, like Australia’s Mack Horton. What I should do is stay focused on my own training.”

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Diana Venture
9 years ago

I read that some of the governing bodies believe that he was not aware that the heart med he was taking was illegal since it was very new on the banned list. And he has Angina. The authorities who internationally judge him let him off easy because of his case. If they think he did it intentionally, he would get a one year ban. Your post on him mention was very judgemental considering you really don’t know what happened unless you are Yang.

USAIMPACT
9 years ago

Where’s he training and who is his coach?

Zhen
Reply to  USAIMPACT
9 years ago

In Australia for the past month with Brown. Ironically, Ning also trained in Australia for 5 weeks.

DISGUSTED
Reply to  USAIMPACT
9 years ago

Sun was training under Brian King at Oasis Pools Banora Point in NSW. Today on Sun’s fan page there is a picture of King stopwatch in hand in China. Obviously the Chinese do not care that Swimming Australia have imposed a six month ban on King from coaching for child abuse.

carlo
9 years ago

I think he,s also in the top 3 in the 400 free this year.

carlo
9 years ago

Yes but he,s ranked world number 2 in the 200 free and 800 free. Not bad for someone who is swimming terribly.

Boris
9 years ago

If he is not doped he may not win a single gold medal. His times since the positive test form Asian Games last year and Chinese nationals this year are miles off from when he was on angina pills

bobo gigi
9 years ago

In my final winners prediction picks for these world championships, I really have serious trouble with Sun Yang.
In the 200 free I pick Biedermann for gold.
But for the 3 other races…. 🙄
Is there a Chinese swim fan who could inform us about his recent shape.
There are never swim meets in China apart from their national championships? 🙂
Sun Yang only trains? 🙂
We don’t know anything.

Zhen
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

They just got back from Aus last week. The shape looks fine based on the photos. I cannot wait to see how he performs.

nothtolose
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

Sun’s head coach Zhang YaDong told reporters the other day that Sun’s got a 50 percent chance of winning each of the four races.
That’s a pretty optimistic projection. Sun is ( looks) good in shape, but for me, probably too slim and muscular for a distance freestyler. He is in good mood as always. He might will take all these four titles he is in, might not. Who knows.
As for the health problem, besides the heart problem and shoulder injury you might have already known, bone splinters are still lodged in his left hand. Everytime after training, he ices his hand with a bucket of iced water. But he will handle it.

IMHO, Chinese Swimming has… Read more »

carlo
9 years ago

ERIC, I don,t know if you are deliberately obstuse but sun yang is not doped. If he is, he,ll test positive for something different in Kazan or rio.

bobo gigi
Reply to  carlo
9 years ago

Just a little remark. You can be doped and not be tested positive.
But I think you already know that. 🙂

Eric
9 years ago

I think it’s easier to get him doped in a good shape for the longer distances. So, my prediction is that he will win the 800 and 1500.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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