Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy won the 1,500 freestyle at the world swimming championships Sunday night in a race that shockingly went off without two-time defending champion Sun Yang of China. Sun didn't appear during introductions and Lane 3 remained empty instead of being filled by reserve Pal Joensen of the Faroe Islands.

"Today I came here and during the warm-up in the pool, I feel uncomfortable in the heart so I have to give up competition," Sun said through a translator at a news conference after the races ended. "I feel sorry because of that." Earlier, Pedro Adrega, a spokesman for FINA, the sport's world governing body, said Chinese team officials told him Sun felt a "chest sensation" during warm-ups.

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Source: http://espn.go.com/