'Deserves to be booed': The other Sun Yang act that infuriated fans

The swimming world has once again erupted over Sun Yang after his podium antics towards Briton Duncan Scott, but fans lost their cool at the Chinese athlete before he hit the stage.

Swimming stars and fans condemned Sun over ugly scenes at the world championships on Tuesday after he appeared to call Scott a “loser” for not sharing the podium with him during the medal ceremony.

But the controversy didn’t start there with second-placed Sun gifted the 200m world title following Lithuania's Danas Rapsys' disqualification for a false start.

Members of the crowd then took exception to Sun as celebrated in the pool by leaning back on the ropes and pumping his fists following the DQ.

This prompted boos to ring out around the aquatic centre.

Breastroke world champion Adam Peaty backed both Mack Horton and Scott for their stance against Sun and said the boos from the crowd spoke volumes.

"If people are booing him it's for a reason," Peaty said of Sun.

"He (Sun) should be asking himself now 'should I really be in this sport when people are booing me?'

"And if I was swimming (against Sun) I wouldn't even get on the podium for that matter."

Swimming stars back Horton

Olympic champion Horton lit the fuse for the world titles controversy when he refused to share a podium with Sun after the Chinese champion relegated him to 400m silver on Sunday night.

It prompted FINA warning letters to not only Horton but also Swimming Australia who had no prior knowledge of his protest.

Horton is unhappy that Sun has been allowed to compete in South Korea by FINA with a September Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing looming that may end his career.

And it seems he is not alone.

Scott showed no sign of backing down after the controversial 200m ceremony drama, saying he was "Team Mack".