JAKARTA, Aug 19, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Chinese giant Sun Yang has all the tools
to be the perfect swimmer — the predatory instinct and a two-metre physique
that can intimidate before a race has even started.
But the triple Olympic champion and nine-time world title holder is also
one of the most divisive competitors in the pool, a magnet for controversy
who seems to upset officials and rivals wherever he goes.
He’s been labelled a drug cheat after serving a three-month suspension in
2014 for using a prescribed medication to treat a heart condition, saying he
was unaware it had been added to the banned list.
Sun triggered a diplomatic row with Japan at the last Asian Games four
years ago when he petulantly branded their national anthem “ugly”.
He has also irked Chinese officials with his sponsorship deals and once
spent a week in a detention centre for a driving offence.
But Sun carries on, unfazed by all the kerfuffle and seemingly revelling in
his reputation as swimming’s bad boy.
To those who know him best, nothing could be further from the truth. Sun’s
part-time coach believes the Chinese superstar is a gentle giant.
“He’s actually a very sensitive guy,” said Denis Cotterell. “He’s very
emotional and he gets upset by a lot of the things that are said and written
about him because a lot of it just isn’t true.”
Australian Cotterell has worked with Sun for years and describes him not
only as the most dedicated swimmer he’s trained, but also one of the most
respectful.
– ‘Nice, sensitive side’ –
As China’s greatest swimmer, Sun is under constant pressure to win every
time he dives into the pool.
“I get cheesed off when people bring up cheap shots because they don’t know
what they’re talking about,” Cotterell said.
“He’s got a really nice, sensitive side and he respects people in the sport
much better that the picture that is painted of him.”
Sun considered quitting swimming after the Rio Olympics when he was taunted
by some of his rivals over the doping ban, which he insists was nothing more
than an innocent mistake.
After winning the 400m and 1,500m freestyle golds at London in 2012, he
showed his incredible versatility by taking out the 200m in Brazil.
With nothing to prove and a long list of sponsors ensuring his financial
security, he could have walked away from the sport.
But the 26-year-old decided to refocus his efforts on long-distance events
despite finding success in sprints, meaning a lot of extra hours churning
through the laps.
At the Asian Games, he has entered the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m as well
as the 4x200m relay — part of a process building towards the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics.
“He was under so much pressure at Rio but he doesn’t want to let anyone
down,” said Cotterell.
“He’s a very proud man and he treats his position of being the number one
sports star in a country that size very seriously.”