The much-anticipated showdown between Australian swimmer Mack Horton and Chinese swimmer Sun Yang in the 1,500 meters freestyle would not take place.
It’s because Sun failed to qualify on Friday night for the men's 1,500 meters freestyle final, reported Daily Mail. He was only 16th overall, and only the top eight will compete in the finals on Saturday.
But Horton did not top the Friday night swim, he came in second with a time of 14:47.47. Top placer was Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri at 14:44.51. Sun was only 15:01.97.
The Guardian explained Sun’s poor performance to the Chinese swimmer falling ill after he won gold in the 200 meters. Sun said he took six antibiotic pills daily which made a difference. But the disappointment of losing to Horton, whom he beat in the same category in the London 2012 games, made him sick after the 200 meters race.
Sun, who swam 1:44 for the 200 meters, said the intense race influenced his body condition, worsened by jetlag. He revealed that most of his waking hours prior to Rio was spent eating, training and doing physical therapy that he did not have any personal time. Upon arrival in Rio, he spends at least two hours every night being treated, plus he has difficulty falling asleep.
Despite the social media war created by Horton after the 400 meters race when he called Sun a drug cheat during their first encounter, the Chinese swimmer has not commented on the controversy. However, Horton said, “It doesn’t really matter if he is there or not to be honest.”
Besides Sun bowing out of the 1,500 meters race, China took a double beating in the doping controversy since another Chinese swimmer, Chen Xinyi, failed in her drug test on Thursday.