Controversial as he is, Sun Yang is very arguably the greatest freestyle swimmer of all time.
The Chinese superstar won his ninth career world title — all individual freestyle golds — by taking the 200m free in Budapest on Tuesday. So exhausted, he emerged from the Danube Arena pool to lay on the pool deck for moments before finally standing.
Sun clocked 1:44.39, while American Townley Haas took silver in 1:45.04 for his first individual medal at a major international meet. Russian Aleksandr Krasnykh picked up the bronze.
Sun was next to last after 50 meters but burst to the lead by the 150-meter mark.