Sun Yang On Pace to Match Grant Hackett’s 400/800/1500 Triple With 800 Win

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BARCELONA, Spain, July 31. WITH most of the world hoping for a potential textile best, China’s Sun Yang still managed to produce the sixth-fastest time ever in the men’s 800-meter freestyle at the FINA World Championships.

Sun held with the pack until the final 100 meters before he pulled away like he was swimming by himself en route to a 7:41.36. Sun’s now the second person along with Grant Hackett to win the event twice as he defended his 2011 title. Along with his triumph in the 400 free earlier this week, Sun is now one step away from joining Hackett as the only man to pull off the incredible 400/800/1500 freestyle sweep at a single World Championships.

Sun Yang
50m ﴾1﴿ 26.68 100m ﴾1﴿ 55.46 28.78 150m ﴾1﴿ 1:24.87 29.41 200m ﴾1﴿ 1:53.97 29.10 250m ﴾1﴿ 2:23.60 29.63 300m ﴾1﴿ 2:52.95 29.35 350m ﴾1﴿ 3:22.48 29.53 400m ﴾1﴿ 3:51.78 29.30 450m ﴾1﴿ 4:21.33 29.55 500m ﴾1﴿ 4:50.63 29.30 550m ﴾1﴿ 5:20.05 29.42 600m ﴾1﴿ 5:49.21 29.16 650m ﴾1﴿ 6:18.51 29.30 700m ﴾1﴿ 6:46.54 28.03 750m ﴾1﴿ 7:14.21 27.67 (1) 7:41.36 27.15

USA’s Michael McBroom, meanwhile, became the American record holder with a career swim of 7:43.60 for silver. That’s the 10th-fastest swim ever, and smashes Larsen Jensen’s national standard of 7:45.63 set way back in 2005 in Montreal. He also became the first American to medal in this event since Jensen went back-to-back with silvers in 2003 and 2005 behind Hackett.

Canada’s Ryan Cochrane earned his third straight medal in the event with a bronze-winning time of 7:43.70. He took bronze in 2009 and silver in 2011, and his time tonight stands as the 13th-fastest ever.

USA’s Connor Jaeger (7:44.26), Australia’s Jordan Harrison (7:47.38), Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri (7:50.29), Faroes Island’s Pal Joensen (7:52.57) and Tunisia’s Ous Mellouli (7:52.79) completed the championship heat.

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