Sun looks to finish off with 1,500-meter title
Source: AFP |
August 3, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SUN Yang, his place in China's sporting pantheon assured after his landmark triumph in the 400-meter freestyle, has his sights on a second Olympic gold in the 1,500 freestyle starting today.
Sun became the first Chinese man to win Olympic swimming gold with his 400 free victory over 2008 champion Park Tae-hwan of South Korea last Saturday.
He followed up by sharing silver in the 200 free with Park behind French revelation Yannick Agnel, then earned bronze in the 4x200 free relay - all arguably warm-ups for his main event.
Sun broke Australian Grant Hackett's iconic 1,500 freestyle world record with a time of 14 minutes 34.14 seconds to win the world title in Shanghai last year - eclipsing a 10-year-old mark that had withstood the era of high-tech bodysuits.
Coming into London, doubters wondered whether Sun would be able to repeat his success outside of China, a question he has answered in emphatic style by completing his medal collection in his first three events.
"I don't feel like the star of these Games," Sun said when asked, but if he achieves his aim in the 1,500 he might. "Now I want to win more medals for my country and myself," he said.
With Sun on the rise, Tunisian Oussama Mellouli's hopes of repeating as Olympic champion seem slim four years after he became the first African man to win Olympic swimming gold.
After the heats today, the 1,500 final will one of four gold-medal races wrapping up competition in the Aquatics Centre pool tomorrow.
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