“We think that his inappropriate comments have greatly harmed the relations of China and Australia, as well as the image of Australian athletes”.
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Sun missed the 400m title on Saturday evening by the length of a finger tip behind Horton who clocked 3 minutes, 41.55 seconds in the Rio Olympic swimming final.
Bad boy Sun, who is no stranger to controversy, was handed a three-month doping ban – served in secret two years ago – for taking a banned stimulant he said was for a heart complaint. “On the Olympics’ competition stage, every athlete deserves to be respected and there’s no need to use these cheap tricks to affect each other”, the Chinese swimmer said, according to state media reports. “We strongly demand an apology from this swimmer”.
Sun was then filmed crying shortly after the race, despite claiming a silver medal in the event. The Australian was accused of snubbing Sun’s attempt to congratulate him on his win immediately after the race, although the two did briefly shake hands later at the podium. When prodded, he added that he was “no friend” of Horton’s.
“You are too complacent and will die quickly”, read a comment on one of Horton’s Instagram posts.
China’s Global Times newspaper, which is close to the ruling Communist party, wrote in a commentary that referenced Australia’s “early history as Britain’s offshore prison”.
Numerous comments recalled a 2013 incident when the Australian men’s freestyle relay team were suspended for using a sedative banned by their national Olympic committee (AOC) in a bonding session before the London Games.
The Chinese Swimming Association demanded an apology from the Australian Swimming Association because of Horton’s personal attack.
Horton has received the support of Australia’s other medallists, including gold medallist trap shooter Catherine Skinner and the bronze medallist diving pair Maddison Keeney and Annabelle Smith.
“I believe that is what sports should be, I believe sports should be clean and sports should be on an even playing field”, Phelps said on Tuesday.
“Total props to him for speaking out first, I admire that”, she said.
“Mr Horton, who has not watched any of the Olympic swimming, tried to halt the messages on Sunday when he tweeted at the swimmer “@_mackhortn mate, just apologise!
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“Horton and his backers represent the dark side of Australian society, and it is time for us to look at the bright side of the Olympic Games”, the editorial said.
