Mack Horton podium protest: Bronze medallist declined request to take part

Australian swimmer Mack Horton’s podium protest against his Chinese rival at the world championships didn’t go completely to plan.

Mack Horton’s Instagram is being flooded with comments from furious Chinese swimming fans as his podium protest against rival Sun Yang at the world swimming championships on Sunday night creates a global furore.

The Australian refused to stand next to Sun — who served a three-month doping suspension in 2014 and is embroiled in a new investigation — after finishing second to him in the 400m freestyle in a move that was celebrated by his teammates but divided commentators and infuriated Chinese fans.

BRONZE WINNER REFUSED PROTEST REQUEST

It’s emerged Italian bronze medal winner Gabriele Detti declined Horton’s request to join his protest.

Horton, who famously called Sun a “drug cheat” before defeating him at the 2016 Olympics and has clashed with him regularly during their careers, chose not to share the podium with his rival or shake his hand in Gwangju.

“I just won’t share a podium with someone who behaves in the way he does,” Horton said after the race.

He asked Detti to do the same but, per popular world swimming website swimswam.com, the Italian said: “I worked too hard for the bronze, I want the podium.”

Mack Horton, Sun Yang and Gabriele Detti. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Sun, who has now won more individual world titles than any man outside of Michael Phelps, is facing charges of smashing vials of his blood with a hammer during a clash last year with drug testers.

According to reports, Sun was visited by three doping controllers in September — but only one was properly accredited.

He was filmed without his permission and noticed anomalies in the paperwork, leading to a four-hour standoff which ended with a security guard destroying the sample because Sun’s team had no faith in the process.

RELATED: Horton should face ‘hefty penalty’

World swimming governing body FINA found Sun did not commit an anti-doping violation but the World Anti Doping Agency has appealed the finding.

Sun — who claimed a fourth straight 400m world title — faces a lifetime ban if found guilty by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“I don’t care about it,” Detti said. “He won so today he was stronger than us. Next year I’ll try to beat him.”

2 lines of thinking - Horton: "I won't share the podium w/ someone who behaves the way he does [Sun]; then you have Detti: "I kicked a** to get on this podium, I'm standing on it." #Gwangju19

— Loretta Race (@RettaRace) July 21, 2019

MACK’S DADDY BACKS HIS SON

Sun worked his way from fifth to first and then easily kept Horton at bay over the last lap to surpass Aussie great Ian Thorpe’s record of three straight wins in the event.

He touched first in 3:42.44. Horton took silver in 2:43.17, while Detti earned bronze in 3:43.23.

On the podium, Sun and Detti joined together on the top spot for photos but Horton didn’t join them. “I don’t think I need to say anything,” Horton said. “His actions and how it has been handled speaks louder than anything I could say.”

Sun said he was aware Horton has a problem with him. “Disrespecting me was OK, but disrespecting China was unfortunate,” Sun said. “I feel sorry about that.”

But Horton’s father, Andrew, told Melbourne radio his son’s silent protest was respectful.

“Mack, like so many in the sport, would just like consistency in the approach to the testing regime,” he told 3AW Breakfast.

“I think he was frustrated and disappointed, as so many of the athletes are, that this issue has tagged along into world championships.”

“It’s not a commentary about China, we have huge respect for China,” he added.

“This is about ensuring that there are systems and processes in the sport that keep the sport clean.”

Mack Horton stood up for what he believed and chose not to respect someone who has knowingly cheated the system. Not sure how we can ever find fault in that. Not sure I’d stand alongside someone who smashed his own drug samples with a hammer. Etiquette or not!

— Darren Parkin (@Darren_Parkin) July 21, 2019

US COACH: MORE SHOULD BE DONE

Sun’s presence at the world meet has drawn the ire of some swimmers, including vocal American Lilly King. “That’s really sketchy and pretty insane,” she said Friday.

US men’s swimming coach Dave Durden also called for further action against the Chinese star. “If you do step back and you hear or read the chatter or listen to what’s going on, yes, you want more to be done,” Durden said.

Durden said swimmers just wanted an even playing field. “That’s all we want,” he said. “It’s a pretty simple request. I think they owe that to these athletes who are working their tails off to have the competition be a level playing field when it comes to drugs and doping.”

But Sun remains unperturbed by the criticism, describing his 400m titles in 2013, 2015, 2017 and now 2019 as “the greatest achievement in history for the Chinese team”.

Sun climbed on the lane rope and waved four fingers on each hand in celebration. He pounded the water and was the last swimmer to leave the pool before thrusting his arms in the air to screams and cheers from Chinese fans, who hung banners featuring his face from the stands.

“I was so thankful for my fans,” Sun said. “I am aware that I have fans and also the haters in the venue, but I was just very satisfied to win.”

“I am aware of the rumours that have been going around,” he added. “But I try to just concentrate on my swimming and I will keep trying to put a lot of effort in my swimming.”