Sun Yang Finishes Second in Return at Chinese Spring Championships
Disgraced swimmer Sun Yang finished second on Wednesday in his return to the pool at the Chinese National Spring Championships.
Sun, who was suspended four years for his second doping violation, went 3:47.94 at the meet in Qingdao, Shandong Province. He was well behind winner Liu Peixin, the 19-year-old going 3:46.80, a best time for him by more than two seconds.
Sun, 33, rallied from third to second in the back half of the race. He qualified for the Chinese national championships in May, which will provide qualification opportunities for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships and the Chinese National Games in the fall.
“This progress shows that I am better than the Sun Yang of last year, and I have achieved my goal,” Sun told Xinhua News Agency.
Sun said he’s struggled with returning to heavy training, including his first high-altitude training since before his suspension in 2020. He also required injections to manage pain in his knee: “At this age, injuries are inevitable, but I have to persevere,” he said.
Sun was well off his best time, of 3:40.14, the Asian record he set in winning gold at the 2012 Olympics in London. The three-time Olympic gold medalist finished second in this event at the 2016 Olympics, among his six Olympic medals. Sun was suspended, for tampering with an anti-doping sample collection in 2018, for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and his eligibility to compete only resumed after China had picked its delegation for the Paris Olympics in the spring of 2024. Originally an eight-year ban, it was lowered on appeal to four years and ended up as 51 months.
The first male swimmer to win gold medals in the 200, 400 and 1,500 freestyle, Sun now has the option of the 800 as well, added to the Olympic program in Tokyo with the complementary addendum of the 1,500 for the women. He appears to be focusing on the 200 and 400 at this point in his career.
The Chinese Spring Championships opened on Tuesday. Wednesday’s competition included a gold medal for Olympic relay medalist Yu Yiting in the 50 butterfly, going 25.73. Zhang Yufei, Qin Haiyang and Ye Shiwen are among the other notable names entered in the meet.
