What is sport without its top talents breathing down each other’s throats in terms of skill and some personal needle too? Both these aspects are present in abundance during Mack Horton - Sun Yang contests in the longer freestyle events, 400, 800 and 1500.
And it was no different on the biggest stage last night, in the 400-metre freestyle Rio Olympics final.
Yang’s 2014 drug abuse soured relations
The Chinese had tested positive for a banned substance back in 2014 and had quietly served a subsequent 3-month suspension. In the era where the Olympic movement is trying its best, to weed out drug cheats and control the worldwide doping problems, Sun’s situation, as well as his shocking absence in the men’s 1500m freestyle final at last year’s World Championships easily placed him into the role of certified swimming villain.
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Yang on his part does nothing to shed of this tag, with rumours surfacing of him taunting the Australian during practice sessions at the Olympic pool.
Horton wins
But, the Australians are masters of psychological warfare and Horton showed off the Aussie fighting spirit with a masterful swim. He kept pace with the Chinese, during the entire stretch of the men’s 400m freestyle final tonight, but discovered that something extra just in time to out-touch the defending Olympic gold medalist at the end by just .17 of a second, clocking 3:41.51 seconds.
Horton, who had the top time in the world for 2016 coming into the Games, has had a slightly interrupted preparation following a car accident in May but managed to maintain his smooth, stroke to steal a deserved win in a time of 3:41.55 with Yang second in 3:41.68.
Horton became the first Australian to win the 400 free since the great Ian Thorpe did so at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The legendary Australian has become a fan of Horton’s combative spirit after initial worries of distraction.
Post race animosity
Icy glares were exchanged after the race, with Yang’s expression also bordering on bewilderment as the Australian extracted some revenge for his 800-metre loss at last years Worlds, after leading for the first 500 metres.
For Australia, this gold medal is a continuation of a longstanding history in this event, the 400m freestyle is their second most successful event in Olympic history - across both men and women - with now six gold, five silver and six bronze for a total of 17 medals in its Olympic history.
What next
Later this week the two gigantic swimmers will again lock horns in the 1500 metres and the combustion between the two should fuel further good performances. Yang is the defending Olympic champion and the world record-holder.
Yang personal best of 14:31 came at London Olympics, whereas Horton has a best of 14:44 set last year at the Australian national championships. While the odds are stacked in favor of the Chinese, only a brave person will bet on the victor.
Incidentally, Murray Rose is the only other Australian to complete the 400 and 1500m freestyle Olympic gold double in Melbourne in 1956. History beckons Horton. Trust action will not be restricted just in the pool it seems!!.
