Sun Yang: Nobody can challenge my dominance in 1,500m freestyle

 LONDON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- "No one can challenge my dominance in the 1,500m freestyle," said China's Olympic champion Sun Yang after setting a new world record to win the men's longest event at London Olympics on Saturday.

"The 1,500m freestyle is my strongest event. I predicted the gold and made it," said the 21-year-old.

Sun, world record holder¹ of the event, asserted² supremacy³ in the final as he led all the way to touch in 14:31.02, edging silver medalist with an unbelievable eight seconds.

He wiped more than three seconds off the previous world record he set at the 2011 Shanghai World Championships.

"I can hear clearly the broadcasting of my results while I was in water. It was in the last lap that I'm pretty sure I can break the world record," Sun said after the race.

"I think the time (14:31.02) was not to my limits. I still have potential to lower the world record," he said.

Canadian swimmer Ryan Cochrane, bronze medalist of Beijing Games, trailed Sun in the race but was dropped by nearly half lap to pocket a silver medal in 14:39.63.

Tusian defending Olympic champion Oussama Mellouli, the first male African swimmer to win an individual Olympic gold from Beijing Games, settled for the bronze with nine seconds behind Sun.

It is the second gold medal Sun has taken from London Games, making himself the first male swimmer to clinch⁴ an Olympic gold medal. Sun also took a silver and a bronze, adding to his tally⁵ of four brilliant Olympic medals.

1 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

2 asserted   

宣称的（尚待证实的）的

参考例句：

• He asserted his dominance over the other party members. 他坚持对其他党员的支配。
• He persistently asserted his right to a share in the heritage. 他始终声称他有分享那笔遗产的权利。

3 supremacy   

n.至上；至高权力

参考例句：

• No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员，无人能胜过她。
• Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说，她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。

4 clinch   

v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench

参考例句：

• Clinch the boards together.用钉子把木板钉牢在一起。
• We don't accept us dollars,please Swiss francs to clinch a deal business.我方不收美元，请最好用瑞士法郎来成交生意。

5 tally   

n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致

参考例句：

• Don't forget to keep a careful tally of what you spend.别忘了仔细记下你的开支账目。
• The facts mentioned in the report tally to every detail.报告中所提到的事实都丝毫不差。