Discussion
So after the Mack-Attack Sun Yang at the world swimming champs has now had a run in with Britains Duncan Scott who refused to stand on the podium with him - all harks back to Sun being caught drug taking in 2014 and subsequent tests where he refused to give samples at various events...
...on the one hand its a shame for sport, but on the other the body who look after swimming clearly aren't being respected for lack of enforcement.
Views?
...on the one hand its a shame for sport, but on the other the body who look after swimming clearly aren't being respected for lack of enforcement.
Views?
When Sun first came on the scene, I was quite a fan of his - his ability over such a broad range of distances was really impressive, however as a keen follower of swimming in general over the past years I've changed my views on him. The 2014 ban, the smashed vial and the contents of the FINA report leaked and published in full plus a number of other incidents (drink driving, violent altercations with officials, hitting women in warm-up pools, a number of other stories he's never denied) all add up to give a picture of a rather nasty individual IMO. Whether or not he's intentionally doping, he's certainly not doing the sport any favours and gives off a rather arrogant appearance of someone who considers themselves 'above the law'.
Reports of him shouting 'I'm the winner, you're the loser' at Scott on the podium today only underline this (aside from the fact that arguably he wasn't the winner after Rapsys, first to the wall, was disqualified for twitching on the block, but not actually false starting). Respect to Scott to not rising to this, but its clear that the booing and everything else seems to be getting to Sun. I've respect for Scott and Horton's quiet protests, as much as protesting against Sun, they are protesting at how FINA deal with doping in the sport.
It's pretty clear that FINA are not a shining beacon of sports administration - this is an organisation who gave Vladimir Putin its highest honour and against whom a number of swimmers (of all nations) are campaigning against for a more equitable division of the spoils. FINA's heavy-handed threats against swimmers who agreed to swim in the ISL were shameful and its well known as a corrupt gravy-train for a horde of glad-handing sports 'bureaucrats' of questionable morals and often little or no previous connection to swimming. Even at my modest level, I've seen the kind of treatment that FINA VIPs get at events such as World Masters and think 'how much does that cost and where does that money come from'? FINA have just announced venues for the World Champs in 2025 and 2027 - Kazan (second time in 10 years for this Russian city) and Budapest (again, second time in 10 years and my wife is half-Hungarian, so I'm pretty aware of how things operate there...). Qatar is hosting in 2023...
Reports of him shouting 'I'm the winner, you're the loser' at Scott on the podium today only underline this (aside from the fact that arguably he wasn't the winner after Rapsys, first to the wall, was disqualified for twitching on the block, but not actually false starting). Respect to Scott to not rising to this, but its clear that the booing and everything else seems to be getting to Sun. I've respect for Scott and Horton's quiet protests, as much as protesting against Sun, they are protesting at how FINA deal with doping in the sport.
It's pretty clear that FINA are not a shining beacon of sports administration - this is an organisation who gave Vladimir Putin its highest honour and against whom a number of swimmers (of all nations) are campaigning against for a more equitable division of the spoils. FINA's heavy-handed threats against swimmers who agreed to swim in the ISL were shameful and its well known as a corrupt gravy-train for a horde of glad-handing sports 'bureaucrats' of questionable morals and often little or no previous connection to swimming. Even at my modest level, I've seen the kind of treatment that FINA VIPs get at events such as World Masters and think 'how much does that cost and where does that money come from'? FINA have just announced venues for the World Champs in 2025 and 2027 - Kazan (second time in 10 years for this Russian city) and Budapest (again, second time in 10 years and my wife is half-Hungarian, so I'm pretty aware of how things operate there...). Qatar is hosting in 2023...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/swimming/49088383
How anyone, Chinese internet fanboi or otherwise, can defend these actions, is beyond me, but my question is 'why's he so agitated?'. If I knew I were clean, I'd be laughing inside at the protests happy I'd just won a (pretty lucky) gold, not getting in people's faces and being aggressive.
However, FINA have now enacted disrepute charges against Sun, Horton and Scott... There's only one person I can see who is bringing the sport into disrepute.
Having seen this, my respect for Duncan is even greater - I'd certainly have had a pop back, which probably wouldn't have been the best thing to do!
As an aside, Duncan Scott is the real deal IMO - he has the right attitude, seems to be able to handle pressure, is still young and is properly quick. I'm looking forward to seeing him vs Dressel in the 100 later this week. He's not the biggest guy by any means, but his stroke is great and reminds me of one of my swimming heroes, Pieter van den Hoogenband.
How anyone, Chinese internet fanboi or otherwise, can defend these actions, is beyond me, but my question is 'why's he so agitated?'. If I knew I were clean, I'd be laughing inside at the protests happy I'd just won a (pretty lucky) gold, not getting in people's faces and being aggressive.
However, FINA have now enacted disrepute charges against Sun, Horton and Scott... There's only one person I can see who is bringing the sport into disrepute.
Having seen this, my respect for Duncan is even greater - I'd certainly have had a pop back, which probably wouldn't have been the best thing to do!
As an aside, Duncan Scott is the real deal IMO - he has the right attitude, seems to be able to handle pressure, is still young and is properly quick. I'm looking forward to seeing him vs Dressel in the 100 later this week. He's not the biggest guy by any means, but his stroke is great and reminds me of one of my swimming heroes, Pieter van den Hoogenband.
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