Disgraced three-time Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang has won his first title since returning from a four-year doping ban. The Chinese freestyle swimmer claimed gold in the men’s 400m freestyle at the Chinese National Summer Swimming Championships on Sunday, marking his first victory after a controversial suspension.
Sun, originally banned for eight years by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2020 for smashing vials of blood during a 2018 test, had his suspension reduced to four years and three months on appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2021. His ban expired in May, too late for him to participate in the Paris Olympics.
In his return to competition, Sun completed the 400m freestyle in 3:49.58, a time significantly slower than his Olympic record of 3:40.14 set at the 2012 London Games. Despite the win, Sun admitted to state media outlet Xinhua that he felt “rusty” and needed more competitive experience to regain his best form.
Reflecting on his career and comeback, Sun posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo that his past successes and failures had prepared him to face life’s challenges. His return to the pool comes amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese swimmers over doping allegations during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Sun Yang, standing at 6ft 7in (two meters), was the first Chinese swimmer to win Olympic gold, triumphing in the 400m and 1500m freestyle events at the 2012 London Olympics. However, his career has been marred by controversy, including a three-month ban in 2014 for testing positive for a banned substance. His return to competition is likely to reignite debates about his legacy in the sport.
