Swimmers show support for Aussie Mack Horton‘s silent protest at world championships

Mack Horton’s decision not to join China’s Sun Yang on the podium has led to international headlines, and rival swimmers have let the Australian know where they sit on his brave stand.

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Swimmers from all around the world have given Mack Horton the ultimate vote of approval for his brave, silent protest against doping in the sport.

If the Australian was in any doubt about whether the swimming community had his back after he refused to join Sun Yang on the medal podium, he got the message loud and clear when he returned to the athlete’s village after Sunday’s 400m freestyle final.

American breastroker Lily King, who is also another vocal anti drugs campaigner, said: “We were kind of waiting around for that awards ceremony to see what was going to happen and yeah it was awesome.

Mack Horton stands below the podium as Sun Yang receives his gold medal. Pic: Getty Images

“When we walked into the dining hall, he walked in after us and like the whole dining hall erupted in applause.

“It was pretty great to see the athletes united on his stance and supporting him as well.”

Australian backstroker Mitch Larkin said that while Horton was all by himself at the medal presentation, he was really protesting on behalf of everyone who supports clean sport.

“I think 100 per cent of the Aussie athletes certainly back Mack up,” Larkin said.

“While he was standing alone on the podium last night, he’s not standing alone in spirit. 99 per cent of the athletes here support what he does.

“We are all fighting for a clean sport and you have to trust that the performance that you do and the training that you do is enough to get you across the line.”

Sun, who narrowly beat Horton for the gold medal, is still fuming at the Australian’s refusal to shake his hand or join him on the winner’s rostrum.

American Lily King (right) said Horton’s stand was ‘awesome’. Picture. Phil Hillyard

He accused the man who beat him at the Olympics of not only disrespecting him but also of insulting the whole of China, setting off a war of words between the two nations.

But Ryan Murphy, the American backstroker who won three gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, said the protest was not so much aimed at Sun, but rather the sport’s world governing FINA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for the way they deal with doping issues.

“It’s good for Mack. First of all, he’s a really good guy, I can attest to that,” Murphy said.

“He’s got his strong beliefs and I think it’s really good that he feels comfortable to stand up for those in this case, not necessarily standing against Sun but more so standing against FINA and WADA for their response to these things. I’m glad he felt comfortable to do that so good for him.

“It’s hard to theorise why they’ve made the decisions they have, it’s really hard to put down a concrete reason as to why but I think it’s hard to say.

Horton shows off his silver medal alongside Italy’s bronze medallist Gabriele Detti. Pic: AP

“I don’t necessarily know FINA and WADA’s motives so if If I knew that then I think we could probably plan out an effective way to protest but I don’t necessarily know what that is.”

Whether Horton’s protest will lead to change remains to be seen.

While his stance was the most visible public demonstration the sport has ever seen, few are convinced FINA will introduce tough new measures to rid the sport of the scourge of drugs.

“I don’t think anyone at FINA’s going to stand up for the athletes so the athletes have to stand up for themselves,” said King, who had earlier called for Sun to be banned from the world championships following the revelations he escaped punishment after he smashed his own blood samples with a hammer last year.

“I think it’s definitely a start and if we start taking a stand against doping then maybe they’ll listen.”