(China Sports) Sun Yang rises to realm of his own
- tanjingjing
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E-mail Xinhua, August 5, 2012
By Sportswriter Tan Jingjing
LONDON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's Olympic champion Sun Yang ascended to throne in world's long course swimming when he wiped more than three seconds off the world record to win the 1,500m freestyle at London Olympics on Saturday, turning over a new page for China's swimming.
Sun, who kept the previous world record, led all the way in the longest race to touch in 14:31.02, edging over silver medalist with an unbelievable eight seconds.
What's more eye-catching, Sun said the time (14:31.02) was not to his limits, and he was confident to better the world record in days to come.
"No one can challenge my dominance in the 1,500m freestyle," said the charismatic Sun, who was tipped as world No. 1 after smashing Grant Hackett's decade-old 1,500m world record at last year's Shanghai World Championships.
After sprinting to the wall first in an epic triumph, Sun couldnot help bursting in tears in pool. He punched the water in delight and let out an extended bellow. Later he drapped himself with a Chinese flag and flashed giant grins for cheering fans and photographers.
Two golds, one silver and one bronze of Sun in London have seen him one of the shining stars alongside Michael Phelps and Sun's compatriot Ye Shiwen.
Sun's records also made up half of the overall nine Olympic medals China has bagged from pool. He has become the first Chinese male swimmer to claim an Olympic gold and also the country's most prolific Olympic medalist.
"I hope to do my part in pushing forward China's swimming career," said the 20-year-old.
He refuted doubts and confusions cast over Chinese swimmers' breakthrough in London, saying all their achievements were made through hard training, and had nothing to do with doping.
"China's swimming is not inferior to any country including the United States," said the confident.
The progress of Sun were not only embodied in his remarkable results, but also reflected in his stable and maturer mindset.
In the 1,500m freestyle final on the last day swimming competition, Sun fell off the starting block before the buzzer as affected by roars from the capacity crowds.
It was a big surprise to all including himself. Sun said his brain was blank at that moment and was worried if he could be given a second chance.
It turned out to be a delayed starting order from referee as he gave a request of "keep silence" to the crowds, not a false start of Sun.
Such incident at the start of a intense race might be a blow to every athlete. However, Sun managed to get over the disturbance and led all the way under pressure, and eventually broke the world record of his own.
"I will continue to make hard efforts to push my limits, to improve myself step by step. I believe I can have greater results in the future," said the Zhejiang native.
He said Michael Phelps was the greatest swimmer he wanted to follow and a role model that inspires him to move on for better results.
Before coming to London, Sun had very tough training in Australia, getting up at 4:30 a.m. in the morning and dipping himself in winter waters. "Besides dinners and sleeps, almost all my time everyday was in water," he said.
Sun's hard training was paid off. He already started an era of his own. Enditem
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