Mack Horton cops big reality check in new run-in with Sun Yang

Mack Horton won’t get the chance to replicate his stance on Sun Yang after failing to qualify for the 800m freestyle final at the world swimming championships.

The Australian failed to qualify for the eight-man final on Tuesday, finishing 14th in the preliminary heats with a time of 7 minutes, 52.65 seconds.

However Sun did qualify, grabbing the last spot for the final on Wednesday, timed in 7:48.12.

Horton wasn’t really expected to threaten the big guns in the 800m after failing to even qualify in the national trials last month.

However he was inserted into the Aussie side via a discretionary selection from head coach Jacco Verhaeren.

The fallout over Horton's 400m freestyle podium protest against Sun at Gwangju appears to have no end, with the Australian even receiving death threats on social media over his stance.

There were fears it would escalate when Horton and Sun contested the 800m heats on Tuesday, but that hasn’t come to fruition.

Facing the media for the first time since his protest, Horton initially avoided a question about his podium stance and instead spoke about the 800m heat.

But when pressed, Horton said: "As much as I want to protect the sport, I still need to protect the team.

"So the focus now is the team's performances and focusing on what everyone else is doing and making sure we get through the week."

Horton sparks international furore

Horton created an international furore when he did not shake hands with Sun and refused to join him on the podium after being relegated to 400m silver by the 10-time world champion on Sunday night.

The protest warranted world body FINA to issue an official warning to Horton and Swimming Australia late on Monday night.

Horton is not happy that Sun, who served a 2014 doping ban, has been allowed to compete ahead of a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing in September that may end the Chinese star's career.

Sun has been accused of smashing vials of his blood with a hammer during a clash last year with testers.

He faces a lifetime ban if found guilty.

Horton made his displeasure known about Sun post-race but is yet to speak publicly about his podium protest that drew the ire of Chinese media and fans.

That looks set to change with Horton tipped to finally address the medal ceremony controversy after his 800m freestyle heat on Tuesday morning.

Horton cops savage treatment

In the meantime, Horton has had to deal with a savage reaction to his anti-doping stance with Chinese media outlets slamming his protest and social media going into meltdown.

The China Daily led the country's chorus of disapproval, saying: "Horton's behaviour was not an insult to Chinese athletes, but an insult to himself."

Vile messages have also inundated Horton's Instagram page since Sun claimed the protest was disrespectful to China, with death threats directed at the Olympic champion, his family and even his girlfriend.

And the controversy doesn't look like going away with Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell standing by the 23-year-old.

"Swimming Australia respects the position Mack Horton took during the medal ceremony and understands his sense of frustration," she said in a statement.

Horton's father said his son was not taking aim at China with his protest.

"I think Mack, like so many in the sport, would just like consistency in the approach to the testing regime," he told 3AW radio.

"This is not about China. We have huge respect for China. This is about ensuring the systems and processes in the sport keep the sport clean."

Horton's feud with Sun erupted at the Rio Olympics, when the Australian dismissed the Chinese star as a "drug cheat" before claiming a shock 400m gold.

with agencies