A row involving China’s swim superstar Sun Yang and an air hostess has given the Chinese a turbulent run-up to the world championships in Barcelona.
The swimming section of the world aquatic championships starts on Sunday with Sun spearheading China’s bid to dethrone the USA’s swimming supremacy at the top of the medals table.
Sun, 21, led his country to their best-ever Olympic performance in London last year, snaring two gold medals and smashing his own 1500m freestyle world record as China finished with five titles.
Along with teen phenomenon Ye Shiwen, beset by doping innuendo as she claimed two individual medley golds, China cemented their new position as the world’s number two team behind America.
But a falling-out between Sun and his coach over his love affair with a stewardess has rocked the Asian swimming power as it prepares for Barcelona.