Swimmer Sun Yang to take part at Chinese Spring National meet, paving way for National Games
Disgraced Olympic and world champion will in Qingdao next week compete for only second time since his four-year drug ban was lifted in 2024
Disgraced Chinese swimmer Sun Yang will next week compete for only the second time since his four-year drug ban was lifted last year, potentially paving the way for him to compete at the National Games.
Three-time Olympic gold medallist Sun confirmed that he would swim at the Chinese Spring National Championships in Qingdao, Shandong province, which runs from March 18 to 23.
The event gives Chinese swimmers the chance to qualify for the country’s national championships in Shenzhen in May – one of two qualifying competitions for this November’s National Games.
Sun, who was the first Chinese men’s swimmer to win Olympic gold, competed in the 400 metres freestyle at the National Summer Swimming Championships in August 2024.
His winning time of three minutes and 54.98 seconds was under the 3:58.71 that will be needed to qualify for the National Games, which will be held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau from November 9 to 21.
“[On Saturday], I finished the plateau training. Before leaving, I habitually go to the training hall to practise in the water,” Sun said on social media.