Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri won the 1,500m freestyle gold at the World Championships on Sunday after China’s world record holder Sun Yang was a shock withdrawal from the final. Paltrinieri clocked 14 minutes, 39.67 seconds with Connor Jaeger of the US taking silver at 1.53secs, while Canada’s Ryan Cochrane was third at 11.41.
But the story of the night was that Sun failed to show for the final, with no explanation for why the long-distance expert was absent after he had already retained his 400m and 800m freestyle golds.
“I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but he wasn’t there and I was like ‘oh, he is probably just messing with us or something like that’,” said Jaeger.
“Standing up on the blocks and he still wasn’t there I was thinking ‘wow, is this really happening’.
“I hope he is not sick or injured and is okay for the next race.”
Sun later confirmed that his withdrawal was down to a heart problem.
“After the 800m competitions, I didn't feel well in my heart. I felt uncomfortable in the warm-up tonight so I had to give up the idea of competing,” he said.
Australia’s Bronte Campbell completed the sprint double by winning the women’s 50m freestyle on Sunday, having already won the 100m title.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu had a double too, adding the women’s 400m individual medley gold to her 200m crown.
The results:
Men: 50m backstroke: 1. Camille Lacourt (Fra) 24.23s, 2. Matt Grevers (USA) 24.61, 3. Ben Treffers (Aus) 24.69. 400m IM: 1. Daiya Seto (Jap) 4:08.50s, 2. David Verraszto (Hun) 4:09.90s, 3. Chase Kalisz (USA) 4:10.05s. 1500m freestyle: 1. Gregorio Paltrinieri (Ita) 14:39.67, 2. Connor Jaeger (USA) 14:41.20, 3. Ryan Cochrane (Can) 14:51.08. 4x100m medley relay: 1. USA 3.29.93s, 2. Australia 3:30.08, 3. France 3:30.50.
Women: 50m breaststroke: 1. Jennie Johansson (Swe) 30.05, 2. Alia Atkinson (Jam) 30.11s, 3. Yuliya Efimova (Rus) 30.13. 50m freestyle: 1. Bronte Campbell (Aus) 24.12s, 2. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Ned) 24.22s, 3. Sarah Sjostrom (Swe) 24.31s. 400m IM: 1. Katinka Hosszu (Hun) 4:30.29, 2. Maya di Rado (USA) 4:31.71, 3. Emily Overholt (Can) 4:32.52. 4x100m medley relay: 1. China 3:54.41s, Sweden 3:55.24, Australia 3:55.56.
