Everyone’s been wondering if the Mack would crack and apologise, but Australian chef de mission Kitty Chiller – who should win some kind of gold medal for the World’s Greatest Name – has spoke and said Horton won’t be apologising. “This is something he feels strongly about and good luck to him”, said the Australian Olympic Committee.
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That disappointment turned to outrage when Horton again called Sun a “drug cheat” after the race.
Horton narrowly edged out Sun during the 400m freestyle on 6 August, claiming gold in a personal best time of 3:41:55.
The two federations have been locked in a bitter dispute following Horton’s remarks – a reference to Sun’s secret three-month ban in 2014 for Trimetazidine – both before and after he dethroned Sun in the men’s 400 metres freestyle final.
However he said competitors had a right to compete “in tranquillity” and appealed to athletes to show respect to one another. The Global Times tabloid opted for a more blunt approach, referring to Australia in a commentary as a former British “offshore prison” that is on “the fringes of civilization”.
However, Sun’s victory was marred by an online war between Chinese and Australian netizens, triggered by Australian swimmer Mack Horton’s psychological tactics against Sun.
“We think his inappropriate words greatly hurt the feelings between Chinese and Australian swimmers”, he said, according to China’s party-controlled news agency, Xinhua.
“It is proof of a lack of good manners and upbringing”.
The top-trending hashtag “Sun Yang Don’t Cry” amassed more than 47 million views on China’s Twitter-like Weibo within hours, Fairfax media reported. “This suggests that no one should be surprised at uncivilized acts emanating from the country”.
Sun, who returned to the pool Sunday to post the quickest time in the 200m freestyle heats, refused to take the criticism lying down, growling: “I’m clean”.
“We are happy for people to express themselves”, Coates said.
He was pictured hugging the head of worldwide swimming on Tuesday but says his focus remains on his 1500m rematch with Horton on Friday. “I don’t think we need to concern ourselves with the Australian’s mind tricks”, Yang said.
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It was later found out that members of the swimming team took the sleeping tablet at a pre-Games camp and star Grant Hackett is reported to seek treatment a year ago for addiction to the prescription drug zolpidem, sold as Stilnox in Australia.
