Sun Yang avenges Rio rival Horton with 400m free world title

China Daily

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Sun Yang celebrates after winning the men's 400m freestyle final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on July 23, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

BUDAPEST, Hungary- Chinese swimming ace Sun Yang got a bit of payback for his Olympic defeat by pulling away for a dominating win Sunday over rival Mack Horton of Australia in the men's 400-meter freestyle, the first swimming final of the 17th FINA WorldAquatics Championships.

On swimming's opening day in the Hungarian capital, the26-year-old ranked second in the heat, set himself on the leading position after 150 meters en route to his third straight champion after 2013 and 2015.

The Chinese starthen steadily pulled away from a stacked field that featured the past three Olympic champions in the event: Horton (2016), Sun (2012) and South Korea's Park Tae-hwan (2008).

Sunfinished more than two body lengths ahead of the field, touching the wall in 3 minutes, 41.38 seconds. Rio Olympics gold medalist Horton settled for the silver, far back at 3:43.85, while Park finished fourth behind bronze medalist Gabriele Detti of Italy.

Sun Yang celebrates after winning the men's 400m freestyle final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on July 23, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Sun let off all his pressure by roaring and punching water when he saw the results. Forefinger in the air means that he is still the best swimmer around the world in the event.

"It was not about my opponent's lackluster performance. Maybe I just did better today, and training on some details recently has paid off," Sun talked about his morale-boosting victory.

Sun will also compete in 200m, 800m and 1500m frees at worlds, and he needs to adjust himself quickly before appearing in the 200m heat on Monday morning.

Last summer in Rio de Janeiro, Horton defeated Sun in the 400m free final after calling him a "drug cheat" for his three-month doping suspension in 2014.

Swimming powerhouse United States kicked off a winning start as they bagged the remaining three golds on Sunday.

Sun Yang reacts on the podiumafter winningthe men's 400m freestyle final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on July 23, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Sun Yang, right, hugsAustralia's Mack Horton on the podium after winning the men's 400m freestyle final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on July 23, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Sun Yang celebrates after winning the men's 400m freestyle final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on July 23, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Sun Yangcompetes inthe men's 400m freestyle final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on July 23, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]