Gwangju, South Korea: British freestyler Duncan Scott has added fuel to the fire started by Australian Mack Horton, refusing to shake hands with Sun Yang or pose for photos after the medal ceremony of the 200m freestyle.
The pair became involved in a heated exchange as they left the pool area, with a fuming Sun pointing at Scott's chest and telling the Glaswegian "You loser, I'm winning, yes!" as they walked down the stairs.
The race was already dramatic enough. Sun was awarded gold by default after Lithuanian Danas Rapsys, who touched the wall first, was disqualified for moving on the blocks.
Scott, who dead-heated for bronze, stood on the dais for the anthems but stepped aside when they concluded and refused to shake hands or be photographed with Sun. The non-Chinese crowd roared their approval before Sun kicked things off verbally, shouting and gesticulating wildy at Scott.
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A volatile Sun continued the verbal altercation as they left the pool but Scott kept his calm, smiled and continued walking.
"I win, you lose": Gold medalist China's Sun Yang, right, gestures to Britain's bronze medalist Duncan Scott.Credit:Mark Schiefelbein/AP
"I'm team Mack," said Scott, who was called a "loser" by Sun as the pair left the pool following the medal ceremony.
"If [Sun] can't respect our sport then why should I respect him? I think a lot of people, everyone in swimming, got behind what Mack did."
The International Swimming Federation, FINA, said it would send a "warning letter" to Scott and Sun over the incident.
"The FINA Executive met today in Gwangju (KOR) to analyse the situation [that] occurred during the mens 200m free victory ceremony and has decided to send a warning letter to athletes Duncan Scott (GBR) and Sun Yang (CHN)," FINA said. "Both competitors had… inadequate behaviour on this occasion, which is not acceptable in accordance with the FINA Constitution Rule C 12.1.3."
The protest was a clear show of solidarity for Horton's move on the first night of the championships, when he refused to share a podium with arch-rival Sun. He called Sun a "drug cheat" at the Rio Games, while Sun enters these titles under fresh scrutiny after a vial of his blood was smashed with a hammer before it could be tested.
He was cleared by a FINA doping panel but WADA has appealed the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in September.
A host of swimmers in Gwangju had spoken up in support of Horton but Scott was the first to put actions behind words.
British teammate Adam Peaty, who has lashed FINA already for their handling of the Sun matter, said he would have done the same thing.
"[Scott] is completely right," Peaty said. "If people are booing [Sun], its for a reason. He should be asking himself now – should I really be in this sport when people are booing me? If I was swimming I wouldnt even get on the podium for that matter".
"I think the most important thing as a sports person is that you have a right to a voice and Duncan showed his voice tonight and so did the crowd."
Sun was scheduled to hold a press conference but did not arrive after being taken to doping control for a regulation test.
The drama overshadowed a pulsating race, with both Sun and Rapsys chasing hard over the first 100 metres as Australia's Clyde Lewis made it a genuine acid test going into the back half of the race.
Lewis could not sustain the pace, sliding back to finish seventh in a time of 1:45.78 as Rapsys and Sun surged towards the wall. Rapsys was the man, bursting clear to stop the cloRead More – Source
Gwangju, South Korea: British freestyler Duncan Scott has added fuel to the fire started by Australian Mack Horton, refusing to shake hands with Sun Yang or pose for photos after the medal ceremony of the 200m freestyle.
The pair became involved in a heated exchange as they left the pool area, with a fuming Sun pointing at Scott's chest and telling the Glaswegian "You loser, I'm winning, yes!" as they walked down the stairs.
The race was already dramatic enough. Sun was awarded gold by default after Lithuanian Danas Rapsys, who touched the wall first, was disqualified for moving on the blocks.
Scott, who dead-heated for bronze, stood on the dais for the anthems but stepped aside when they concluded and refused to shake hands or be photographed with Sun. The non-Chinese crowd roared their approval before Sun kicked things off verbally, shouting and gesticulating wildy at Scott.
Advertisement
A volatile Sun continued the verbal altercation as they left the pool but Scott kept his calm, smiled and continued walking.
"I win, you lose": Gold medalist China's Sun Yang, right, gestures to Britain's bronze medalist Duncan Scott.Credit:Mark Schiefelbein/AP
"I'm team Mack," said Scott, who was called a "loser" by Sun as the pair left the pool following the medal ceremony.
"If [Sun] can't respect our sport then why should I respect him? I think a lot of people, everyone in swimming, got behind what Mack did."
The International Swimming Federation, FINA, said it would send a "warning letter" to Scott and Sun over the incident.
"The FINA Executive met today in Gwangju (KOR) to analyse the situation [that] occurred during the mens 200m free victory ceremony and has decided to send a warning letter to athletes Duncan Scott (GBR) and Sun Yang (CHN)," FINA said. "Both competitors had… inadequate behaviour on this occasion, which is not acceptable in accordance with the FINA Constitution Rule C 12.1.3."
The protest was a clear show of solidarity for Horton's move on the first night of the championships, when he refused to share a podium with arch-rival Sun. He called Sun a "drug cheat" at the Rio Games, while Sun enters these titles under fresh scrutiny after a vial of his blood was smashed with a hammer before it could be tested.
He was cleared by a FINA doping panel but WADA has appealed the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in September.
A host of swimmers in Gwangju had spoken up in support of Horton but Scott was the first to put actions behind words.
British teammate Adam Peaty, who has lashed FINA already for their handling of the Sun matter, said he would have done the same thing.
"[Scott] is completely right," Peaty said. "If people are booing [Sun], its for a reason. He should be asking himself now – should I really be in this sport when people are booing me? If I was swimming I wouldnt even get on the podium for that matter".
"I think the most important thing as a sports person is that you have a right to a voice and Duncan showed his voice tonight and so did the crowd."
Sun was scheduled to hold a press conference but did not arrive after being taken to doping control for a regulation test.
The drama overshadowed a pulsating race, with both Sun and Rapsys chasing hard over the first 100 metres as Australia's Clyde Lewis made it a genuine acid test going into the back half of the race.
Lewis could not sustain the pace, sliding back to finish seventh in a time of 1:45.78 as Rapsys and Sun surged towards the wall. Rapsys was the man, bursting clear to stop the cloRead More – Source
