Sun Yang Wins 4th-Straight World Title with 3:42 400 Free

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The rivalry between Olympic 400 free champions Sun Yang (China) and Mack Horton (Australia) continued as the men’s 400 free was the first final contested at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju. Sun, the 2012 Olympic champ in the event, once again came out on top on the Worlds stage. The rivalry between Sun and Horton heated up in 2016, when Horton beat Sun for the 400 free title. Earlier this week, the two reportedly had to be separated during warmup.

Sun took over the lead from Australia’s Jack McLoughlin after the first 100. Though the field appeared to be within reach of creeping up on him at the 350-mark, Sun kicked it into gear on the last 50 to maintain his lead and win the race in 3:42.44. Horton brought it home for the silver with a 3:43.17. They also went 1-2 in 2017. Behind them, Gabriele Detti set an Italian Record in 3:43.23 to repeat as bronze medalist.

Sun is the 3rd fastest man in history. His lifetime best is a 3:40.14 from the 2012 Olympics when he narrowly missed the 2009 World Record by 7 hundredths.

All-Time Top 10 Performers: Men’s 400 Free:

1 Paul Biedermann 3:40.07
2 Ian Thorpe 3:40.08
3 Sun Yang 3:40.14
4 Ous Mellouli 3:41.11
5 Zhang Lin 3:41.35
6 Park Tae Hwan 3:41.53
7 Mack Horton 3:41.55
8 Grant Hackett 3:42.51
9 Larsen Jensen 3:42.78
10 Peter Vanderkaay 3:43.11

All-Time Top 10 Performances: Men’s 400 Free:

1 Paul Biedermann 3:40.07
2 Ian Thorpe 3:40.08
3 Sun Yang 3:40.14
4 Ian Thorpe 3:40.17
5 Sun Yang 3:40.29
6 Ian Thorpe 3:40.54
7 Ian Thorpe 3:40.59
8 Ian Thorpe 3:40.76
9 Ous Mellouli 3:41.11
10 Ian Thorpe 3:41.33

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Maverick
5 years ago

Wow. Congrats Sun!!

Tall N Wet
5 years ago

Haters inbound

angela
5 years ago

SUN YANG IS A GAREAT SWIMMER

KSchwim
Reply to  angela
5 years ago

You spelled cheater wrong. And great.

Samesame
5 years ago

Glad Yang doesn’t have the world record in the 400

Troy
Reply to  Samesame
5 years ago

It’s a shame Sun’s swims and the supersuit record are ruining that all time top performances list.

Tim
5 years ago

I’m hoping someone can set up Sun and Katie and make a super swimmer for 2036.

Dman
5 years ago

in protest Horton refused to take the silver stand next to Sun.

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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