Sun overcomes false start to shine brightly
Source: Agencies |
August 6, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SUN Yang's big night nearly ended before it began.
When it was over, though, the Chinese star had been excused from a false start and set another world record to win the grueling 1,500-meter freestyle - the longest event in the pool.
That's when the tears started flowing.
"I really cried in the finish line," Sun said through a translator after Saturday's Olympic race. "I was afraid of the false start. I was so scared that I would be disqualified. I was so relieved."
As fans drowned the arena with noise, Sun dove into the water before the starter's gun, while everyone else remained on the blocks. Sun glanced at the starter with a confused look, got back out of the pool and waited to see if he would be disqualified.
"I could not hear the judge because there was noise in the venue," he said.
But the starter allowed him to go, judging that he was distracted by the raucous crowd, and that decision essentially decided the gold medal. No one else was close to Sun, who was going faster at the end than he was at the beginning.
He was ahead of his previous record from start to finish, sprinting the last lap in the marathon-like event to set a new mark of 14 minutes, 31.02 seconds - a whopping 3.12 seconds quicker than his previous record set at last year's world championships in Shanghai.
Until last year, Australian great Grant Hackett had held the world record in this event for 10 years. It was the only world record to survive the era of high-tech bodysuits, which were banned in 2010.
Judging from how far behind the other swimmers were, Sun knew he would break the world record entering his last lap.
"I know I did not push my body to the limit," he said. "There's still more to go."
It was Sun's second gold here, adding to the 400 free title. He tied for silver in the 200 free, and was part of the bronze medal-winning team in the 4x200 free relay.
After looking at his time and catching his breath, Sun was overcome with emotion. He climbed on the lane rope, pounded the water, pointed toward a group of supporters, and broke down in tears.
Canada's Ryan Cochrane took the silver a distant 8.61 behind, while defending champion Ous Mellouli of Tunisia settled for bronze, 9.29 seconds back.
When it was over, though, the Chinese star had been excused from a false start and set another world record to win the grueling 1,500-meter freestyle - the longest event in the pool.
That's when the tears started flowing.
"I really cried in the finish line," Sun said through a translator after Saturday's Olympic race. "I was afraid of the false start. I was so scared that I would be disqualified. I was so relieved."
As fans drowned the arena with noise, Sun dove into the water before the starter's gun, while everyone else remained on the blocks. Sun glanced at the starter with a confused look, got back out of the pool and waited to see if he would be disqualified.
"I could not hear the judge because there was noise in the venue," he said.
But the starter allowed him to go, judging that he was distracted by the raucous crowd, and that decision essentially decided the gold medal. No one else was close to Sun, who was going faster at the end than he was at the beginning.
He was ahead of his previous record from start to finish, sprinting the last lap in the marathon-like event to set a new mark of 14 minutes, 31.02 seconds - a whopping 3.12 seconds quicker than his previous record set at last year's world championships in Shanghai.
Until last year, Australian great Grant Hackett had held the world record in this event for 10 years. It was the only world record to survive the era of high-tech bodysuits, which were banned in 2010.
Judging from how far behind the other swimmers were, Sun knew he would break the world record entering his last lap.
"I know I did not push my body to the limit," he said. "There's still more to go."
It was Sun's second gold here, adding to the 400 free title. He tied for silver in the 200 free, and was part of the bronze medal-winning team in the 4x200 free relay.
After looking at his time and catching his breath, Sun was overcome with emotion. He climbed on the lane rope, pounded the water, pointed toward a group of supporters, and broke down in tears.
Canada's Ryan Cochrane took the silver a distant 8.61 behind, while defending champion Ous Mellouli of Tunisia settled for bronze, 9.29 seconds back.
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