The drama between the Rio Olympics' 400-meter freestyle gold and silver medalists has dominated the headlines of Australian and Chinese media since the opening day of the Games, triggering a continuing war of words in both countries over Australian swimmer Mack Horton's controversial remarks on Chinese swimmer Sun Yang. Even though Sun has concluded his third Olympic journey after failing to advance to the 1500-meter freestyle final, neither side appears willing to budge on its stance.
ESPN editorial teams in China and Australia look back at how the saga unfolded, rose above sports and got blown out of proportion.
Where did it all start?
Ahead of the 400-meter freestyle final on Aug. 6, Horton said Sun splashed him during a practice to "say hello" and he didn't respond because he didn't have time for "drug cheats" -- apparently referring to Sun's three-month doping ban in 2014.
The Chinese swimming team immediately responded with fury, denying Sun's alleged provocation and calling Horton's remarks a "well-thought strategy."
"I think I am OK with playing some psychological warfare but not using this kind of things," Sun's coach Zhang Yadong told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. "I think it is kind of dirty, or even despicable. But I believe Sun will be more mature after going through this and will face this type of things in a correct way."
After beating Sun and winning gold, Horton said his victory was "a win for the good guys." Playing down his perceived rivalry with Sun, he said it was a match between him and "an athlete who has tested positive."
"This is the Australian's little trick," Sun responded decisively. "Every athlete that has made to the Olympics should deserve respect."
Horton has since been targeted in huge waves of online trolling, with many accusing him of conducting personal attacks on Sun. But others have defended him, saying he was simply being forthright about his stance against doping.
A diplomatic feud in the past
The bickering between the two Olympians soon spiraled when China's swimming governing body released a statement saying, "We think his inappropriate words have greatly damaged sporting ties between China and Australia, and damaged the image of Australian athletes. These comments lack manners, and we strongly ask that Horton apologize."
Australia quickly dismissed China's call for an official apology, with chef de mission Kitty Chiller saying Horton had the right to express his views.
The International Olympic Committee tried to maintain peace, saying that while athletes are encouraged to enjoy the freedom of speech, they should treat each other with equal respect.
It remains unclear whether the latest incident reflects any existing discord between the two swimming teams. After Sun's suspension in 2014, Australia banned him from training in certain facilities as the country tightened rules on foreign swimmers' anti-doping testing requirements. Denis Cotterell, a renowned Australian swimming coach who had been coaching Sun, also had to cut ties with him.
Sun said he didn't know that the medication he was taking for a heart condition contained a banned substance. The World Anti-Doping Agency banned trimetazidine a few months before Sun's failed test but reclassified it as a "modulator of cardiac metabolism" later in 2015. The substance is no longer banned in competition.
A 2015 report by Australian tabloid The Daily Telegraph asserted that Sun still trained in the country despite the training ban. The story, headlined "Chinese swimming drug cheat Sun Yang secretly training with Australian coaches on the Gold Coast," caused a stir in China.
The Global Times, China's state-backed newspaper known for its often assertive and nationalistic commentaries, published a controversial op-ed last week lamenting Australia's "uncivilized acts" in dealing with the Sun-Horton saga.
A truly bitter rivalry?
The perceived hostile rivalry between Sun and Horton might be blown out of proportion.
An accomplished Olympic and World Championships medalist, Sun is China's top swimmer and is treated as a national treasure. He displays distinct confidence and personality not commonly seen from Chinese athletes and is known for speaking his mind. Horton, on the other hand, was relatively unheralded in Australia before this Olympics, known for his quiet and unassuming style.
After his first gold medal and remarks about Sun, he now has become a household name. The notion that the two have a tense relationship appears to be a myth. Xu Qi, a manager with the Chinese swimming team, said that Sun is actually close to many Australian swimmers, including Horton.
The media and public opinion tug of war on Sun's doping incident more epitomizes a clash of contrasting views. Horton's voice as well as the support he has garnered fits into a larger trend already seen at the Rio Olympics in which more athletes are speaking out against doping. China still lags behind in sports technology and management, which can get overlooked outside the country. It's easy for people in the country to feel that their improved efforts in fighting doping aren't appreciated.
Different receptions
In China, Sun's unparalleled star power in many ways has put swimming in the national spotlight, with around 1.3 million people watching him gliding in Rio toward gold. His latest shocking elimination from the 1500-meter race -- partially a result of cold and fever -- is bound to generate enormous disappointment in the country.
In Australia, swimming is popular as a recreational sport with good participation. It is also the country's most popular Olympic sports thanks to big names like Ian Thorpe. On the international stage, it is the American swim team, not Chinese, that Australia considers a rival in the pool. In addition, because of Horton's relatively small stardom compared to Sun's, his Olympic accomplishments will be received much differently back home.