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Sun Yang Blasts 3:43.73 400 Free At Chinese Nationals

2019 CHINESE NATIONALS

*Note: Results are only available through Chinese app

The 2019 Chinese Nationals kicked off today in fast fashion, with athletes vying for spots on their nation’s roster for this summer’s World Championships in Gwangju. Perhaps the biggest gun to take to the Qingdao Sports Center pool today was National Record holder and multiple Olympic champion Sun Yang, who is racing in his first meet since his latest doping debacle.

Sun was recently involved in another sketchy doping situation in which the athlete broke a number of testing protocols, including ordering security guards to destroy a vial of his blood. Dr. Han Zhaoqi, the head of the Zhejiang Anti-Doping Center told FINA that the testing nurse present didn’t have the necessary paperwork, and at a January 3rd hearing, the FINA panel ruled in Sun’s favor, stating that they would “never know” what had happened.

Nevertheless, Sun produced a morning swim of 3:49.04 to take the top spot in the men’s 400m freestyle, only to shatter that mark on tonight’s final. Sun fired off a wicked-fast 400m free time of 3:43.73 to beat the next closest competitor, Ji Xinjie, by over 4 seconds. Xinjie touched in 3:47.88, while Meng Rui notched 3:51.48 for bronze tonight.

Sun’s performance easily takes over as the top time in the world this season, marking the only swimmer to delve under the 3:45 threshold thus far.

2018-2019 LCM MEN 400 FREE

SunCHN
YANG
07/21
3.42.44
2Mack
HORTON
AUS3.43.1707/21
3Gabriele
DETTI
ITA3.43.2307/21
4Danas
RAPSYS
LTU3.43.3605/12
5Jack
McLOUGHLIN
AUS3.44.3406/09
View Top 26»

Beyond that, for additional perspective, Sun’s time would have taken 4th place at the 2016 Olympic Games, where he took silver in 3:41.68. His 3:43.73 outing tonight also would have taken the silver medal behind himself at the 2017 World Championships, as well as would have produced the silver medal in Jakarta, again behind himself, at last year’s Asian Games.

Splits for Sun’s swim tonight include the following:

54.30/56.89/56.98/55.56

Sun’s last 100 included a final 50 of 27.14.

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rsginsf
5 years ago

Huh. Whaddya know.

Doconc
5 years ago

This guy is a walking science fair project

Haven’t forgotten his behavior at Olympics either

Curious
5 years ago

Where can I find the full results? What’s the name of the Chinese app?

Togger
5 years ago

Never thought I’d find myself rooting for Biedermann’s super suit record, but at least he was playing by the rules as they were.

Togger
Reply to  Togger
5 years ago

Think we can all agree that’s the real world record. Be a shame to see the textile best go down to Sun, but I think it’s unlikely, 2012 was his shot.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Togger
5 years ago

Yea, Thorpe went 3:41.8 in briefs when he was 16. He was miles above everyone else, and still is. If only Thorpe didn’t glide into the wall in 2002, the WR would still be his at 3:39.

swimma
Reply to  Mr Piano
5 years ago

3:41 in a brief when he was 16…forgot about that…

Ragnar
5 years ago

Sun yangs become the Barry Bonds of the sport, time to put some asterisks next to those records

Lille
5 years ago

I feel bad for those who didnt get a gold because of him.

applesorangesandbananas
5 years ago

Why do you even give him one bit of press? He’s a cheater who has been allowed to skate with little or no punishment.

Skoorbnagol
Reply to  applesorangesandbananas
5 years ago

Because it’s a swim news website, they are not judge and jury of Sun Yang

sven
Reply to  applesorangesandbananas
5 years ago

As of right now, he’s going to be at competitions and he’s going to be a factor for gold. As long as he is allowed to swim, his times are relevant, regardless of legitimacy. We’ll see what happens at the CAS.

SpeculationSpectacular
Reply to  applesorangesandbananas
5 years ago

Cause you will come here and click and comment. That’s how websites work.

DravenOP
5 years ago

Cheater.

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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