Tokyo Olympics swimming trials: Mack Horton may have missed 400m freestyle selection but his spirit lives on

He won’t be defending his 400m freestyle Olympic title, but in Elijah Winnington and Jack McLoughlin, Mack Horton knows the fight against Chinese hothead Sun Yang won’t miss a beat.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 12: Elijah Winnington look to the clock after finishing his heat in the Men's 400 LC Metre Freestyle heat 2 during the Australian National Olympic Swimming Trials at SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre on June 12, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The next wave of Aussie swim stars have made a solemn pledge to Mack Horton after his shock failure to qualify for the 400m freestyle at next month’s Tokyo Olympics.

Australia’s selected 400m swimmers Elijah Winnington and Jack McLoughlin have vowed that if they ever have to race against Sun Yang – they’ll do whatever it takes to beat China’s controversial champion.

It’s still unknown whether the short-fused freestyler will be allowed to compete in Tokyo – with a decision on his latest drawn out anti-doping appeal expected later this month – but one thing is for sure, Winnington and McLoughlin will be gunning for him if they do race against each other.

Elijah Winnington must be considered a real medal threat in Tokyo.

The duo spoke candidly to Horton after the 400m final at the trials, to assure him they were in his corner when it came to fighting for clean sport.

“He‘s probably my most admired swimmer,” said McLoughlin. “I just admire him so much.

“I see what he does in training, he‘s an animal and I have so much respect for him.

“I feel like it‘s Elijah and my duty now to go and do well at the Olympics because if we don’t really take that up, then we’ll let him down as well.”

Winnington, who has been anointed as Australia’s next middle-distance champion-in-waiting, said he felt an obligation to go and win the gold in Tokyo after setting the fastest time in the world this year.

“I had a little moment with Mack after that race and I pretty much told him he‘s my hero,” said Winnington, 21.

Mack Horton won’t be defending his 400m freestyle title in Tokyo.

“When I get on the world stage, whether Sun Yang races, it‘s going to be a competition and if you make the team in the 400m in Australia you are very much in contention for an Olympic medal, let alone Olympic gold.

“I have made the team and now my team is to shift on that and see what I can do for Australia.”

Horton beat Sun to win the 400m gold in Rio then famously protested against his participation at the 2019 world titles when he still had a case pending.

Horton paid a high price for taking a stand, with thousands of Sun’s fanatical Chinese supporters abusing the Aussie on social media, but he never flinched.

“He‘s an absolute champion in my mind. He’s done so much for the sport,” said Mitch Larkin, one of Horton’s closest friends on the Australian swim team.

“His morals, what he believes in, the things he fights for, they are absolutely incredible.”

It’s not known whether controversial Chinese swimmer Sun Yang will compete in Tokyo.

Horton lost no admirers in defeat – setting the third fastest time for 400m in the world this year only to miss out because the two ahead of him were both Aussies – but Larkin said it was a great sign for the depth of Australian swimming.

“Credit to Elijah, it’s not easy beating an Olympic champion and it got me pretty excited because it sort of summarises and hits home why you swim,” said Larkin, who hopes to swim the 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley in Japan.

“It‘s about overcoming all the challenges that we’ve all faced and sort of sticking it to the pool and leaving everything in there.

“People are switched on, it‘s game on, and it really hits home what it means to book an Olympic spot.

“With Mack, it was sort of not a wake up call, but for me, it was like a moment where I said, oh, now I‘ve got to be on. No one’s safe.”

Originally published as Tokyo Olympics swimming trials: Mack Horton may have missed 400m freestyle selection but his spirit lives on