Swimmer Sun Yang to take part at Chinese Spring National meet, paving way for National Games
Disgraced Chinese swimmer Sun Yang will next week compete for only the second time since his four-year drug ban was lifted in 2024, potentially paving the way for him to compete at the National Games.
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Three-time Olympic gold medallist Sun confirmed that he will compete at the Chinese Spring National Championships in Qingdao, Shandong province, which runs from March 18 to 23.
The event gives Chinese swimmers the chance to qualify for the country's national championships in Shenzhen in May – one of two qualifying competitions for the National Games.
Sun, who was the first Chinese athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in men's swimming, competed in the 400 metres freestyle at the National Summer Swimming Championships in August 2024.
His winning time of three minutes and 54.98 seconds was under the 3:58.71 that will be needed to qualify for the National Games, which will be held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau from November 9-21.
'[On Saturday], I finished the plateau training. Before leaving, I habitually go to the training hall to practise in the water,' Sun said on Weibo.
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