China’s Swimming Star Sun Yang Weeps with Joy After Victory in First Race Since Doping Ban

China’s swimming star, Sun Yang, shed tears after winning his comeback race after four years and six months.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Sun Yang competed in the men’s 400m freestyle final, representing Zhejiang Province at the 2024 National Summer Swimming Championships. The competition was held in Hefei, Anhui Province. His record was 3 minutes 49.58 seconds. He said, “It’s a good start,” marking his long-awaited return.

Sun advanced to the finals in the preliminaries on the 25th by finishing first in his heat and second overall. His record was 3 minutes 54.98 seconds. He admitted, “I was a bit anxious and nervous.” In the final, he swam in lane 5 and got his prize.

After the race, Sun acknowledged, “Honestly, I can do better.” He admitted that the lack of competition for the past four years made him unfamiliar. He also noted, “It’s a good start for my comeback,” expressing his joy at returning to the pool. He hopes to perform better in future competitions.

Sun was a Chinese superstar swimmer in the 2010s, forming a rivalry with the now-retired Park Tae-hwan. He won gold medals in the 400m and 1500m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics and the 200m freestyle at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He also swept 11 gold medals at the World Championships.

However, Sun Yang’s career was hit by doping allegations. In August 2018, Sun was accused of obstructing doping testers who came to his home to collect samples. Reports alleged that he used a hammer to destroy blood sample vials and tore up the test report. Sun claimed that the testers had not presented valid credentials. As a result, he was handed a four-year and three-month suspension in 2021. This suspension, which began on February 28, 2020, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) initially imposed it, will end on May 28 this year.

Due to the suspension, Sun missed the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2021 Paris Olympics, and the 2024 Paris Olympics. He hoped to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, but the Chinese Swimming Federation held the Olympic trials in April before his suspension ended.

Despite missing the Olympics, Sun has shown strong determination to return. After his suspension ended in May, he hinted at his comeback on his social media post, saying, “Those who surpass themselves know no fear.”

Born in 1991, Sun is now 33 years old. His performance is not the same as it was in his prime. In the 400m final, his time was far from his personal best of 3 minutes 40.14 seconds, set at the 2012 London Olympics.