Aussie Swimmer Mack Horton Launches Podium Protest

The beef between Aussie and Chinese swimming stars reignites.

An already bitter feud has reached boiling point at the World Swimming Titles in Gwangju, South Korea, where Aussie swimmer Mack Horton refused to share a podium with China’s Sun Yang after the men's 400m freestyle final.

The ABC reports that Horton, who won silver, refused to stand on the dais for the medal presentation alongside Sun.

If that wasn’t awkward enough, the swimming star then happily posed for photos with the Italian bronze medallist, Gabriele Detti, but refused to be pictured with the gold medallist.

Why the beef?

Significant beef has existed between Horton and Sun since the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Horton took home the gold and called Sun a "drug cheat" for serving a three-month doping suspension in 2014.

Now, the beef has escalated with Sun currently facing allegations of doping rule violations that could see him banned from the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The Chinese swimmer has requested a public trial to defend himself at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in September.  

The ABC reports that this comes after a hammer was used to smash a vial of Sun’s blood, preventing it from being analysed for drugs last September.

With athletes already unimpressed that Sun was allowed to compete in these championships, many have taken to social media to commend Horton for standing up for clean sport.  

Absolutely awesome to see @_mackhorton protesting clean sport by not getting up on the podium next to Sun Yang #cleansport pic.twitter.com/6WFJ8LhV8H

— David McKeon (@DavoMcKeon) July 21, 2019

Mack Horton🇦🇺 protesting Sun Yang🇨🇳participation #WorldChamps @TimesSport reported that in 2018 Sun’s security detail smashed a blood sample taken during a test with a🔨so far, no sanction🤦‍♂️ he has also previously served a 3 month🤦‍♂️ ban for testing positive for Trimetazidine. pic.twitter.com/K5uqYExekg

— Callum Skinner (@CallumSkinner) July 21, 2019

While some athletes are praising Horton’s actions, Sun believes the Aussie swimmer has taken it too far. He told a press conference, "It was unfortunate because disrespecting me is okay but disrespecting China was very unfortunate and I felt sorry about that."

However, Australia's head coach Jacco Verhaeren has defended Horton, claiming that although he had no prior knowledge of his protest, he had no problem with his actions.

"That was his idea to do that. But let’s put it this way, I understand him very much," he said.

Horton’s not the only Aussie making a splash

The intense shade being thrown has unfortunately cast an extraordinary win by Australia’s Ariarne Titmus to the side. The eighteen-year-old Aussie swimmer from Tasmania beat America’s Katie Ledecky in the women’s 400m final.

Since Ledecky has not been beaten in the 400m freestyle at a major international competition since the 2012 Olympics, this is kind of a massive deal.

Aussies have praised her victory on social media, even dubbing her "The Tasmanian Tiger".

What an increble performance by Ariarne Titmus to win the 400m freestyle defeating superstar Katie Ledecky 👏👏👏 #swimming #FINAGwangju2019

— Anthony Webb (@anthonyqld) July 21, 2019

The Tasmanian Tiger, well done Ariarne Titmus.

— Leigh Bowerman (@crackatinny1974) July 21, 2019

#Australian teen #Ariarne Titmus shocked #Olympic champion Katie Ledecky to win the 400 meters #freestyle title at the world #championships in #Gwangju on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/OhrOhdd1HO

— M N A (@mnaEN) July 21, 2019

The 18th FINA World Championships finish on Sunday, 28 July 2019.

Header Image: Instagram (@mackhorton)