Australian Mack Horton has sparked controversy at the swimming world championships in Korea, refusing to stand on the podium alongside Chinese opponent and accused drug cheat Sun Yang.
Sun responded that Horton is guilty of “disrespecting China” and the national manager of China’s swimming team has previously criticised the Aussie swimmer for a “malicious personal attack” against his Chinese rival.
Hancock Prospecting, the Gina Rinehart-controlled mining company that is the headline sponsor of Swimming Australia, has declined to comment on the controversy.
Hancock has extensive business interests in China.
When Australian swimmer Mack Horton snubbed his Chinese rival Sun Yang at the world championships in South Korea on Sunday, he probably knew he was wading into controversy.
But he may not have expected to cross Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest woman and the owner of Swimming Australia’s marquee sponsor, Hancock Prospecting.
