emotional win: China’s Sun Yang reacts after he won gold in the men’s 1500m freestyle final in world record time during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre. — Reuters photo
LONDON: Sun Yang hit out at critics suspicious of China’s performances in the Olympic pool after his sensational world record to win the men’s 1500m freestyle gold on Saturday.
Fingers have been pointing at China following 16-year-old Ye Shiwen’s astonishing world record final split in the women’s 400m medley on the opening night of the meet, which provoked a storm of speculation in the Western media.
Swimming’s world governing body FINA said there was “no factual basis” for speculation Ye’s Olympic medley double had been fuelled by banned drugs and that she had been tested on four occasions in the last 12 months. Sun, 20, became irritated when he was questioned about China’s performances at his post-final news conference.
“People think China has so many gold medals because of doping and other substances, but I can tell you it is because of hard work,” he said.
“It is all down to training and hard work that we have results.
“Chinese are not weaker than those in other countries.”
Asked if he was angry about allegations, Sun snapped:”If you hear critics about athletes from your country, how would you feel?” — AFP