Sun Yang lashes out after Brit Duncan Scott’s swim titles snub
Chinese star Sun Yang confronts British bronze medallist Duncan Scott over his podium protest.
Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has reacted angrily after another professional swimmer – Britain’s Duncan Scott – refused to shake hands amid allegations of doping against the Chinese athlete.
Footage has emerged of Yang smirking and calling Scott a “loser” after the Briton, who won bronze on Tuesday night, ignored the Chinese champion’s offer to shake hands on the podium.
“”You loser,” Sun told Scott as the athletes made their way off the podium.
“I’m winning, yes!”
Scott did not react during the tense confrontation.
Sun Yang to Duncan Scott: "You're a loser. I'm a winner." pic.twitter.com/W1AhD6XekV
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) July 23, 2019
It comes just days after Australian swimmer Mack Horton staged a bold podium protest, refusing to stand next to or shake Sun’s hand when the controversial Chinese athlete won gold in the 400m freestyle final on Sunday.
Horton received an official warning from FINA over the protest, and he and his girlfriend have since become the target of vicious online trolls.
In the latest incident at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Sun was awarded the gold medal in the men’s 200-metre freestyle competition after Lithuanian Danas Rapsys, who finished first, was dramatically disqualified for a false start.
Sun was jubilant when officials announced Rapsys’ disqualification, sitting on the lane rope and raising his arms in celebration to a mix of boos and cheers as a devastated Rapsys was still leaving the pool.
During the medal presentation, Scott, who finished joint third with Russian Martin Malyutin, stood on the podium with Sun but refused to shake hands or be photographed with the Chinese champion.
🇬🇧 Duncan Scott refuses to share the podium with China’s Sun Yang for a photo moment #FINAGwangju2019 pic.twitter.com/B2BQXkn3Du
— Derrick Ntege (@derrick_ntege) July 23, 2019
Instead, the Briton congratulated Japanese silver medallist Katsuhiro Matsumoto and co-bronze medallist Malyutin.
FINA swiftly issued a warning letter to Scott and Yang, citing “inadequate behaviour”.
Sun has been charged with smashing vials of his blood with a hammer to prevent doping testers taking samples at his home in China.
The three-time Olympic champion, who served a 2014 doping ban but has now won the last four 400-metre titles, faces a lifetime ban from swimming if found guilty.
