Tokyo 2020: viral sensation Fu Yuanhui disqualified in Chinese Olympic trials
- Fu Yuanhui claimed bronze in the 100m backstroke at the Rio Games in 2016
Fu Yuanhui, the Chinese swimmer who became one of the darlings of the 2016 Rio Olympics after her surprised reaction to winning the 100-metre bronze medal went viral online, was disqualified during the 100m backstroke semi-final of the Olympic swimming trials on Sunday.
China’s Olympic swimming trials act as its primary Olympic qualifier, where its team for the Tokyo Games is set to be finalised, are being held in Qingdao until May 8.
Fu, who won gold in the 100m backstroke at the 2014 Asian Games, appeared scratched from the official final results, however it wasn’t immediately clear why the 25-year-old had been precluded in her pet event. Officials later confirmed she had false started.
Fu is the Chinese national record holder in the 100m back with a time of 58.72 seconds set in April 2017 and had been expected to be a strong medal chance for China in Tokyo.
Fu still has one remaining route to Tokyo if she can attain the Olympic A mark of 1:00.25 in an early June make-up event.
Fu comfortably made it through the preliminary round on Saturday, and then progressed comfortably to the semi-final.
Fu was quickly into the lead in her semi-final heat before being overtaken by another Tokyo hopeful, Peng Xuwei. But after the race, officials informed the Hangzhou native that she had fouled. Peng’s semi-final run saw her make the Olympic A mark in 59.86 seconds.
Fu’s participation in the June repechage was confirmed in Chinese media later on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Li Bingjie and Wang Jianjiahe, the two Chinese swimmers with the best chance of challenging the mighty Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle in Japan will go head-to-head in the final on Sunday.
