The opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics literally only wrapped up this time yesterday, but the swimming finals have already kicked off, because sure, why not just get straight to the good stuff?
On that note, Australian swimmer Mack Horton has delivered Australia its very first Rio 2016 gold medal, taking out a victory in the men’s 400 metre freestyle event.
Horton, who was ranked as world number one heading into Rio, edged out Chinese swimmer Sun Yang 3.41.55 to 3.41.68. He won Australia’s second medal of the day, after our men’s archery team won bronze.
There have been reports of a rivalry between Horton and Yang, especially since an incident earlier this week in which the Chinese swimmer splashed water in his face during training.
“I don’t know if it’s a rivalry between me and him, just a rivalry between me and athletes who have tested positive,” Horton told Channel Seven, in reference to a 2014 incident in which Yang was handed a three-month ban for doping.
The 20-year-old Horton has won Australia its sixth gold medal in 400 metre freestyle, following previous wins by Ian Thorpe (2000, 2004), Murray Rose (1956, 1960) and Brad Cooper (1972).
Horton has yet to compete in the 1500 metre freestyle, where he has another shot at a gold medal.
Source: ABC News.
Photo: Al Bello / Getty.
