Mack Horton laments losing ‘Australia’s Race’ to Italian rival

MACK Horton knew he was in trouble with 28 laps to go in the 1500m freestyle final. For these Olympics at least, the event once known as ‘Australia’s Race’ was Italy’s race.

Mack Horton after the Men’s 1500m Freestyle Final.

MACK Horton knew he was in deep water with about 28 laps to go in the 1500m freestyle final.

Italian world champion Gregorio Paltrinieri was punching his way through the laps like a lifesaver trying to get to a drowning man, and Horton just couldn’t go with him.

“Usually I’m the one who goes out fast so that’s when I knew I was in trouble,” he said. “He was able to go that much faster than I was. I was up with him for a while but I just couldn’t stick with him.”

Horton finished fifth in the race behind his good friend Paltrinieri, with American Connor Jaeger second. Paltrinieri’s countryman Gabriele Detti.

For these Olympics at least, the event once known as “Australia’s Race” was Italy’s race.

Horton, who won the 400m freestyle gold medal on the first night of competition after creating an international incident by calling Chinese defending champion Sun Yang a “drug cheat” acknowledged it had been a “massive week”.

Mack Horton congratulates Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri after he won the final of the Men's 1500m Freestyle.

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs for the team but I think everyone has handled it very well. I got a bit of a head cold after the 4x200m relay and I’ve really being trying to hold it together since them.

“I thought I kicked it in the 1500m heat yesterday but I guess two 1500s in two days is just a stack.”

Added to the physical stress was the emotional pressure of having gone through a sporting and media firestorm.

“Probably the thing that made it possible for me to win that 400 was me not realising what I’d done,” he said. “As soon as you start realising how big things are, it puts a barrier on it so I kind of still don’t know what I’ve done. You’re only as good as your last race and so I’m not really good at the moment.”

As for the anti-drug stance that started a movement, he said he was proud of what he had done, but didn’t want to be defined by it.

“It was good to kick it off,” he said. “I followed it through the week but I don’t want to let myself get caught up in it because it becomes a distraction.”

At which point the team official called for one last question. Fittingly it came from a journalist from China.

“Is there anything I’d like to say to Sun Yang?” Horton repeated before heading for a drug test. “Not really.”

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Originally published as Mack Horton laments losing ‘Australia’s Race’ to Italian rival