Sun takes seventh in 200-meter backstroke

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Iolani alum Hongzhe Sun swam 2:00.33 in the backstroke final. Advertiser library photo

Sun finished seventh in the finals of the 200-meter backstroke yesterday at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Long Beach, Calif.

His time was 2 minutes, 0.33 seconds, his second-fastest time.

World record holder Aaron Peirsol and Michael Phelps, who is aiming to win seven gold medals at next month's Olympics, finished in the top two in the 200 backstroke finals, earning them spots on the U.S. Olympic team.

"I just tried to swim my own race, but it was just exciting to be in such a meet," Sun said in a phone call from Long Beach. "I wished I could have been in a spectator's perspective, because it was an exciting race to watch.

"The whole environment was so different with such high-caliber swimmers."

Sun, who swam under Iolani Swim Club and was joined by his coach Brian Lee, said he was happy with his performance, and that he met his goal of making it to the finals.

"Tonight I decided to take it out a little faster," Sun said.

He was in fifth after the first 100 meters, dropped to sixth after 150 meters, and finally finished in seventh.

"I'm still pretty happy with the swim," said Sun, who set a personal record of 1:59.67 in Sunday's semifinals.

The 18-year-old Stanford sophomore-to-be said most swimmers hit their peak in their mid- to late-20s.

"I'm still young I guess, I'm continually learning new things about myself, the event and the sport," he said. "Swimming-wise, I know I have some work to do, underwater (kicking) could be improved.

"I just had a lot of fun; as I get older and stronger, I'm sure a lot of things will fall into place."

Sun, the Pac-10 Conference Newcomer of the Year and seven-time gold medalist in state swimming, said it was the largest crowd he ever swam in front of.

"Ten thousand fans every night, the crowd is just amazing, even when I swim, you can hear everyone cheer," he said. "The crowd was going crazy, and you can definitely feel it when you swim."

Sun also finished 10th in Thursday's 100-meter backstroke semifinals.

He is the only Hawai'i swimmer so far to make it to the finals, but Keiko Price, a 1996 Mililani graduate, is swimming in the 50-meter freestyle preliminaries today. Sun said the caliber of U.S. swimmers is the best in the world.

"The top two people (at the U.S. trials) will probably medal at the Olympics," he said. "This meet is almost comparable to the actual Olympics; you can stick a few other countries in there, but really, the U.S. is the best."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.