Distinguished is level 3 of 4 in the China Hall of Fame: sustained excellence over a career, widely honoured at home. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
A freestyle swimmer who won Olympic gold in the 400 and 1500 metres in 2012 and the 200 metres in 2016, the first Chinese man to win Olympic swimming gold.
Sun Yang set a world record in the 1500 metres freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics and won eleven world championship titles.
He returned to competition in 2024.
In 2020 the Court of Arbitration for Sport banned him after a 2018 doping control in which a sample was destroyed; the ban was later reduced on appeal but kept him out of the 2020 Olympics. He had also served a three-month suspension in 2014 for a banned stimulant.
He returned to competition in 2024.
In 2020 the Court of Arbitration for Sport banned him after a 2018 doping control in which a sample was destroyed; the ban was later reduced on appeal but kept him out of the 2020 Olympics. He had also served a three-month suspension in 2014 for a banned stimulant.
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