Swimmer Sun Yang competes in the men's 1500-meter freestyle in the National Swimming Championship in Qingdao City, East China's Shandong Province, April 17, 2017. (Photo: China News Service/Han Haidan)
Chinese Olympic champion Sun Yang said he is ready to face the challenges after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced newly-added events for Tokyo 2020, including three swimming events: men's 800 meters, women's 1500m freestyle and mixed 4X100m medley relay.
Sun, 1500m freestyle world record holder, who won three champions over 200, 400, 1500m from London and Rio Olympic Games and dominated 800m three times in a row at the FINA World Championships at 2011, 2013, 2015, said he has just set a new goal for Tokyo.
"Opportunity is equal to every athlete. Though I am the three-time 800m world champion, all the glory belonged to the past. I am always setting my eyes to the future, for the worlds to be held next month in Budapest, and for Tokyo Olympic Games. Every athlete has the chance to win the event," Sun said.
"For me, my goal is upgraded that I am for sure hungry for the 800m gold medal in Tokyo. It is a wonderful feeling to establish the new record for China swimming. I will try my best to work hard and repeat that wonderful feeling in 2020," said Sun, team captain of the Chinese national team.
Sun, who currently ranked No. 1 in the 200m and 400m freestyle on the world rankings, will compete in the 200, 400, 800, 1500 freestyle in FINA World Championships in Budapest next month.
On the meantime, Zhao Jian, spokesman of the Chinese Swimming Association, said the new events would push the development of the world swimming.
"The goal of the new project is to achieve equality between men and women in the principle of fairness and equality. It is a great opportunity but also challenge for all the swimmers," Zhao said.
"The swimming competition will be more fierce and unpredictable. It will help swimming become one of the most welcome and popular sports in the world with more fans and participants."
