6 olympics THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012 CHINA DAILY All eyes, especially in Asia, are on the competition between China’s Sun Yang and South Korea’s Park Tae-hwan. Chen Xiangfeng reports in London. SWIMMING GOES TO NEXT LEVEL ising Chinese swimmer Sun It’s one of the most anticipated rivalries Hackett’s 10-year-old world record en Meanwhile, Park seems uncon- duo will extend their competition to Yang and his South Korean in the Olympic pool, aft er that between route to gold in the 1,500m at the 2011 cerned about the challenge from Sun, the 200m, in which they have an out- counterpart Park Tae-hwan Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. Shanghai World Championships. But whom he’s never lost to 400m in inter- side medal chance — especially Park. R are virtually doppelgangers. Sun — who, at 20, is two years he was again foiled in his attempt to national competitions. Park’s explosion of stardom at home Both are considered cool and trendy. younger than Park — says, “(Park) is usurp Park in the 400m and fi nished He says he’s more concerned about aft er the Beijing Olympic Games could Both are oft en seen with black-rimmed my idol, but I’m not scared at all of him. in second to the Korean in Shanghai. breaking the world record. also be replicated by Sun in China, if he glasses perched on their noses and I’m better than before. Both my coach Sun also came in second in the event “Th is isn’t about a competition with wins his country’s fi rst Olympic men’s huge headphones covering their ears. and I feel I’m stronger”. at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Sun,” Park told the Korean Times. swimming gold. And both frequently travel to Austra- Th e Korean brought his country its Sun regards the Shanghai loss to “What I think is more important is He is already hailed as China’s next lia and have trained with big-name fi rst Olympic gold in swimming in the Park as a valuable lesson. to win the record battle with myself.” superstar and is poised to join the coaches. 400m four years ago in Beijing and “I learned how to face defeat,” Sun While his 400m prospects are uncer- ranks of former NBA All-Star player Th e two are youth idols and media seeks his second title in London. Park said recently at a training camp at Bath tain, Sun is widely considered a shoo-in Yao Ming, track hero Liu Xiang and darlings in their homelands. beat then 25-year-old Chinese swim- University. to take the gold in the 1,500m, in which he French Open champion Li Na. Th ey’re set to face off aft er Park, the mer Zhang Lin to win in Beijing, while “It makes me a stronger person com- set a world record of 14:34.14 in Shanghai. Th e 400m fi nal is scheduled for July reigning Olympic men’s 400m freestyle Sun failed to advance to the fi nal, rank- ing to London.” Park, who has been putting more 28, the fi rst day of the Olympic swim- champion, announced last month that ing 28th in 3 min 50.90 sec. This season, the strapping Chinese eff ort into shorter-distance events in ming competition. he’ll swim the 1,500m — the event in Sun improved dramatically over has managed to close the gap on Park by recent years, trails Sun by more than which Sun holds the world record — in the past two years and stunned the clocking the fastest time in the event at a 13 seconds with a best time of 14:47.38. Contact the writer at London. world by breaking Australian Grant national meet in April. Apart from their specialty events, the [email protected] SHANGHAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, 2011 Gold Gold 1,500m 400m Gold 800m Silver 400m GUANGZHOU ASIAN GAMES, 2010 Gold Gold 1,500m 400m Silver Gold 400m 200m Gold 100m Silver 1,500m ROME WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, 2009 Bronze Gold 1,500m 400m Silver 200m BEIJING OLYMPICS, 2008 8th Gold 1,500m 400m freestyle freestyle Silver 200m freestyle SUN YANG PARK TAE-HWAN Born in Hangzhou, Dec 1, 1991 Born in Seoul, Sept 27, 1989 Height :1.98 m Height: 1.83 m Weight : 81 kg Weight: 74 kg PHOTOS BY AP, ILLUSTRATION BY TIAN CHI / CHINA DAILY China needs a star, and Sun is willing to oblige By CHEN XIANGFENG in London tive in other freestyle events. I feel like a brave champion at the 2004 Athens Games. of his fans wrote on the micro blog. “I [email protected] “I think my chances of winning the warrior with shield Luo described herself as a “beast” love you so much and I believe more fans 400m are great if I can swim normally,” in hand.” whenever she steps on the starting will join you aft er the London Games.” Yao Ming called it quits. he said, before traveling to London. “As block. Similarly, Sun describes himself Th e 20-year-old is already a national Liu Xiang is still fighting his way in the 1,500m, the gold medal belongs SUN YANG as a “warrior”. darling in China. Commercials featur- back aft er a devastating injury. to me.” CHINESE SWIMMING STAR “I feel like a brave warrior with shield ing him have been telecast frequently China needs a hero. Sun’s outspoken nature is unusual in hand. I am about to go all out,” Sun leading up the Games, while a huge A nation whose Olympic success compared to other Chinese athletes, said in a speech in front of the national poster of him was hung at the entrance mostly comes in less-popular sports who generally prefer to maintain a low ‘Sun‘ posts photos and communicates swimming team before leaving for of Sanlitun, a popular shopping area in like badminton and table tennis is in profi le. It reared its head last August, with his 8.06 million followers on his London. downtown Beijing. desperate search of a new sports star. when he criticized the Chinese Swim- micro blog. “I am ready, London. Here we come. In London, he has been chased by Twenty-year-old swimmer Sun Yang ming Association for making him In one of the latest posts, he called on Th e Chinese men are coming.” the international media, making him came along just in time. attend a commercial event without fans to cheer for him in London. Sun’s aggressiveness may be a head- one of the most-watched Chinese ath- Sun, from Hangzhou, Zhejiang prov- letting him know beforehand. “Th e road of life is made step aft er ache to normally protective offi cials, letes in town. ince, shot to fame at the 2011 World Th at characteristic, along with his step,” he said. “It’s not destiny that who prefer to shield their athletes from Sun shrugged off the pressure, hop- Championships in Shanghai, where he trendy lifestyle and handsome appear- decides your life. It’s every choice and the public spotlight before major com- ing he can live out his Olympic dream, claimed the gold medal in the 1,500m ance, makes Sun an icon among China’s every eff ort you make that decide your petitions. But he is widely adored by much as hurdler Liu Xiang did in 2004. with a world-record time that broke post-1990 generation and, of course, a life. Cheer up with me, my friends.” the younger generation. “I watched Liu making history in Grant Hackett’s 10-year-old mark. marketing darling. Sun came from a sports school in his “Brother Yang, I witnessed the number 2004 on TV,” he said. “I wished I could He is the runaway favorite in the “I think I have a very good personal- hometown that also produced Luo Xue- of your fans rise from 700,000 to more do the same thing one day. I will give event in London, and will be competi- ity. I’m sunny and outgoing,” he said. juan, the women’s 100m breaststroke than 8 million. I’m so proud of you,” one my utmost eff ort.”.