Sun snaps oldest mark in the pool
Source: Agencies |
August 1, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE world championships ended with a bang yesterday when emerging Chinese standout Sun Yang broke the oldest world record in the sport - Australian great Grant Hackett's 10-year-old mark in the 1,500 meters.
The 19-year-old Sun clocked 14 minutes 34.14 seconds after a blistering final 100 meters to eclipse the 14:34.56 the now retired Hackett set in Fukuoka worlds in Japan in 2001.
It had been the longest-standing record still on the books following a glut of records at the last world championships in Rome in 2009 when swimmers wearing the now banned polyurethane swimsuits set 43 records.
Canada's Ryan Cochrane took the silver in 14:44.46, while Hungary's Gergo Kis won bronze in 14:45.66.
"The coach told me before the race to focus on the gold medal and not to worry about breaking the world record," Sun said. "It's not surprising, I had thought about it (breaking the record) before," he added in reference to the 14:35.43 he achieved at the Asian Games last year.
The gangly Sun, who had also won the 800 freestyle in Shanghai, controlled the race from start to finish.
While Cochrane kept within a body length of the 19-year-old Chinese for the first half, he was unable to stay with him after that and Sun kicked away.
Sun had looked unlikely to break Hackett's record as he was slipping consistently outside the world record split times until the final 300 meters when he noticeably accelerated his pace.
He was more than two seconds outside Hackett's time when he heard the bell at 1,400 meters but somehow found the energy to produce an amazing 25.94 seconds over the final length of the pool at the Oriental Sports Centre to break the record.
Congratulated
After the race, Sun was congratulated on Sina weibo, China's version of Twitter, by Liu Xiang, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and a former world record holder in the 110-meter hurdles and a sports hero in China.
It was only the second world record to fall in swimming since high-tech bodysuits were banned 19 months ago.
Upon breaking Hackett's mark, an exhausted Sun celebrated mildly, then bowed to the crowd. Later, nearly all the fans in attendance sang along to the Chinese anthem.
Michael Phelps finished with four golds after pushing the Americans in front during the butterfly leg in the 4x100 medley relay. Nathan Adrian held off a late comeback by Australia's James Magnussen in the anchor leg.
The Americans won in 3:32.06, Australia took silver in 3:32.26 and Germany got bronze in 3:32.60.
In other events, 33-year-old Therese Alshammar of Sweden won the women's 50 free and American Elizabeth Beisel took gold in the women's 400 IM. Another American, Jessica Hardy, reclaimed the 50 breaststroke title she lost two years ago during a doping ban and Liam Tancock gave Britain its second gold in as many nights in the 50 back.
The Americans' performance on the final night moved them in front of China on the overall medals table with 17 golds to China's 15.
The 19-year-old Sun clocked 14 minutes 34.14 seconds after a blistering final 100 meters to eclipse the 14:34.56 the now retired Hackett set in Fukuoka worlds in Japan in 2001.
It had been the longest-standing record still on the books following a glut of records at the last world championships in Rome in 2009 when swimmers wearing the now banned polyurethane swimsuits set 43 records.
Canada's Ryan Cochrane took the silver in 14:44.46, while Hungary's Gergo Kis won bronze in 14:45.66.
"The coach told me before the race to focus on the gold medal and not to worry about breaking the world record," Sun said. "It's not surprising, I had thought about it (breaking the record) before," he added in reference to the 14:35.43 he achieved at the Asian Games last year.
The gangly Sun, who had also won the 800 freestyle in Shanghai, controlled the race from start to finish.
While Cochrane kept within a body length of the 19-year-old Chinese for the first half, he was unable to stay with him after that and Sun kicked away.
Sun had looked unlikely to break Hackett's record as he was slipping consistently outside the world record split times until the final 300 meters when he noticeably accelerated his pace.
He was more than two seconds outside Hackett's time when he heard the bell at 1,400 meters but somehow found the energy to produce an amazing 25.94 seconds over the final length of the pool at the Oriental Sports Centre to break the record.
Congratulated
After the race, Sun was congratulated on Sina weibo, China's version of Twitter, by Liu Xiang, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and a former world record holder in the 110-meter hurdles and a sports hero in China.
It was only the second world record to fall in swimming since high-tech bodysuits were banned 19 months ago.
Upon breaking Hackett's mark, an exhausted Sun celebrated mildly, then bowed to the crowd. Later, nearly all the fans in attendance sang along to the Chinese anthem.
Michael Phelps finished with four golds after pushing the Americans in front during the butterfly leg in the 4x100 medley relay. Nathan Adrian held off a late comeback by Australia's James Magnussen in the anchor leg.
The Americans won in 3:32.06, Australia took silver in 3:32.26 and Germany got bronze in 3:32.60.
In other events, 33-year-old Therese Alshammar of Sweden won the women's 50 free and American Elizabeth Beisel took gold in the women's 400 IM. Another American, Jessica Hardy, reclaimed the 50 breaststroke title she lost two years ago during a doping ban and Liam Tancock gave Britain its second gold in as many nights in the 50 back.
The Americans' performance on the final night moved them in front of China on the overall medals table with 17 golds to China's 15.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
