2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Live results
Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has become a lightning-rod for criticism among his fellow athletes at the 2019 World Championships, but at least one big name swimmer, who is not his countrymate, has had a positive interaction with Sun.
A video clip apparently from Chinese TV, posted on Twitter on Wednesday, shows Rapsys and Sun having a conversation on deck, hugging, and exchanging what appears to be pleasantries. Rapsys touched the wall first in the men’s 200 free final, but was disqualified for a false start. Sun touched the wall 2nd, and was promoted to 1st place after the disqualification.
https://twitter.com/fan_swimming/status/1154069936920076289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1154069936920076289&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fswimswam.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D390678%26action%3Dedit
The controversy around Sun can be read in full elsewhere on the site, but in short, last September one of his bodyguards smashed a vial of his blood during an out-of-competition doping control sample collection. FINA pressed for a punishment, but the independent FINA anti-doping panel declined to do so. The Sun camp argued that the testers did not provide proper credentials, and no evidence was provided to dispute this (the tester in question did not appear or provide evidence of her credentials to the hearing). WADA has appealed the decision and a hearing is expected in September.
After Sun won the 400 free (without aid of a disqualification), Australian silver medalist Mack Horton refused to stand on the podium next to Sun or take pictures with him. In the 200 free, British bronze medalist Duncan Scott stood quietly on the podium in protest, but would not take pictures with the other 2 medalists. Sun could be seen walking off the podium calling Scott a “loser.” Both Horton and Scott have received large, though not unanimous, support from those swimmers who have spoken out publicly, including a reported standing ovation for Horton in the athletes’ dining hall.
Sun, Horton, and Scott all received warning letters from FINA.
The account also showed a photograph of Rapsys, who is Lithuanian, helping Sun out of the pool after the 200 free.
https://twitter.com/fan_swimming/status/1154070312981372934?s=20
Rapsys made a statement on his Instagram page of disappointment about his disqualification, expressing that while he did probably shake his leg, he does not believe that he gained an advantage.
The statement translates to English as follows:
Sorry. I worked hard for this race, and I had to sacrifice a lot and do what I needed to achieve. I probably shook my leg before the start. This action was by no means an advantage over other athletes;
I am happy to have the best result of the season in the world. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to fight such opponents in a competition of this rank. I fought with myself and I succeeded.
I am glad that many people came to the finish line and said, “you are the real champion”. Those words mean a lot to me. I’ll be back again, stronger. I promise.
This is amazing. That twitch is a forward move and any movement before the start is a DQ. All parents who ever worked on the deck know about it and largely silent about it on your forum. Suppose your son made the second and the first one was DQed, would you EVER say that your son won the race because another swimmer was DQed??? Shame on the silent parents!
This article contains error. FINA ruled in favor of Sun but WADA the independent test body is appealing to the world court of Arbitration.
Hi Regina, it does not contain an error – there is a lot of misinformation going around about the process. FINA presented the case for a punishment, but the FINA-summoned anti-doping panel declined to punish them. WADA appealed to the CAS.
Like most people Sun just wants people to like him.
In the words of the great Melissa Manchester .
” There’s got to be a morning after If we can hold on thru the night
We have a chance to find the sunshine ,
Lets keep looking for the light.
Theres got to be a morning after ,
We’re moving closer to the shore,
I know we will be there by tomorrow,
And we’ll escape the darkness,
We won’t be searching anymore .”
Thought this was NotSwimSwam for a second.
Why’s he helping the cheat?
You don’t need a reason to be kind to people.
Such a humble person. Hope to see this guy rise next year at the Olympics.
Hahahaha I’m sorry but the fact that this even has to be a story is cracking me up so much right now. 😂