The much-anticipated 800-metres world championship clash between Australian swimmer Mack Horton and controversial Chinese star Sun Yang has fizzled out, with Horton failing to make the final field for the race.
Horton, who created an international furore when he did not shake hands with Sun and refused to join him on the podium after being relegated to 400-metre silver by the 10-time world champion on Sunday night, could qualify only 14th fastest for Wednesday’s 800-metres final.
Sun will contest the race – as the eight-fastest qualifier. Australian Jack McLoughlin will also be in the mix: He had the third-fastest time in Tuesday’s heats in South Korea.
Horton has received death threats on social media for his stance in Gwanju. Swimming regulatory body FINA has also confirmed Horton and Swimming Australia will get warning letters – despite SA claiming it had no prior knowledge of Horton’s silent protest.
Horton is unhappy that Sun, who served a 2014 doping ban, has been allowed to compete ahead of a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing in September that might end the Chinese star’s career.
Sun has been accused of smashing vials of his blood with a hammer during a clash last year with testers.
He faces a lifetime ban if found guilty.
Horton made his displeasure known about Sun post-race but is yet to speak publicly about his podium protest that drew the ire of Chinese media and fans.
The China Daily led the country’s chorus of disapproval, saying: “Horton’s behaviour was not an insult to Chinese athletes, but an insult to himself.”
Vile messages have also inundated Horton’s Instagram page since Sun claimed the protest was disrespectful to China, with death threats directed at the Olympic champion, his family and even his girlfriend.
And the controversy doesn’t look like going away with Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell standing by the 23-year-old.
“Swimming Australia respects the position Mack Horton took during the medal ceremony and understands his sense of frustration,” she said.
Horton’s feud with Sun erupted at the Rio Olympics, when the Australian dismissed the Chinese star as a “drug cheat” before claiming a shock 400-metre gold.
Elsewhere, Australia’s Ariarne Titmus has firmed as 200-metre freestyle favourite after three of the top four contenders pulled out of the world swim titles event on Tuesday.
Australia’s world No.2 Emma McKeon and American great Katie Ledecky withdrew due to illness ahead of Tuesday’s heats. Canada’s Commonwealth Games 200-metre champion Taylor Ruck has been rested.
World No.1 Titmus, 18, has already claimed a shock 400-metre freestyle win after upsetting Ledecky on Sunday.
Australian officials said McKeon was rested for Tuesday’s 200-metre heats as a precaution but would still contest her remaining events – the 100-metre freestyle and four relays.
McKeon’s withdrawal sabotages her tilt at a world titles record.
McKeon was set to become the first to claim eight medals at a single world titles after collecting 4×100-metre freestyle relay gold and 100-metre butterfly bronze.
-with AAP
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