Olympic champion Sun Yang set to make his return

The General Administration of Sport of China has confirmed that Olympic champion Sun Yang will make his competitive return in Hefei, Anhui province, according to Anhui local news website Dawan.

Sun will compete with the Zhejiang team at the National Summer Swimming Championships, scheduled to take place in Hefei from Aug 25 to 28.

Sources from the Anhui Provincial Sports Bureau revealed to Dawan that they received confirmation from the sports authority about Sun's participation and the arrival of the high-profile athlete has intensified security measures at the venue.

"The sports administration has specifically instructed an increase in security protocols," a source told Dawan.

The tag "Sun Yang's Comeback Confirmed in Hefei" has climbed to 9th place on Weibo's trending list, garnering over 14 million views.

On Tuesday, Sun's official super topic on Weibo, which is a fan space boasting over 2 million followers, shared details on ticket sales for the 2024 National Summer Swimming Championships. News of his return to the competition sparked a wave of fan support.

"He's endured so much and still chose to continue - he truly loves the sport," wrote one fan. "Finally, we'll see you back on the field, Sun Yang," another posted. "It's been a long time—enjoy the competition," added another supporter.

At 32, Sun became China's first male Olympic swimming champion at the 2012 London Games and went on to collect 3 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze Olympic medals. Between 2009 and 2019, Sun added 11 golds, 2 silvers, and 3 bronzes to his tally at the World Swimming Championships.

In February 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport handed Sun an 8-year ban for violating World Anti-Doping Agency rules by tampering with a doping sample. Despite the suspension, his previous competition results remained intact.

Sun immediately appealed the ruling to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, but his efforts proved unsuccessful. In March 2022, the court upheld the ban, keeping him sidelined until May 2024.

However, on May 28 this year, Sun completed his 4-year, 3-month suspension, marking his return to competitive swimming. On the same day, his official swimming studio posted on Weibo, stated, "Transcend yourself, swimmers fear nothing."

"When I received the final ruling in 2020, I was determined to return in four years - I would not retire," Sun told The Paper.

Driven by his deep love for the sport, Sun expressed his desire to continue competing. Though acknowledging he is no longer in his prime, he believes his return is a personal mission, a commitment to himself and his swimming career.