Sun Yang returns after row with coach

China's top male swimmer Sun Yang is back in the pool and back with the Chinese national team. The multiple-Olympic medallist has returned to training after a disagreement with his coach over his personal life caused quite the ripple in their relationship.

It looks like Sun Yang has healed the rift between himself and his coach Zhu Zhigen, which means the young talent is rejoining Zhu for training in eastern China's Zhejiang province.

Surrounded by a large group of journalists, the Olympic champion gave his coach an awkward embrace, trying to show that their fractured relationship is now healed.

Zhu Zhigen, Sun Yang's Coach, said, "Things are all in the past. I've said athletes will sometimes make mistakes, especially younger athletes."

Sun Yang said, "I think it's better we communicate to solve the problem instead of letting it escalate. I think the conflict could hurt us since we've been working together for the past 11 years."

Sun hadn't trained with his coach since late last year. And after finding a new girlfriend since returning from the London Olympics, the balance couldn't be reached between his personal life and athletic career.

Sun Yang said, "I talked a lot with my coach since I came back to Zhejiang. I've been training with him. No matter what happened in the past, I'll continue to work with my coach and prepare for the 2016 Rio Olympics."

Zhang Yadong, Zhejiang College of Sports, said, "They hugged closely and cried after healing the rift. After all, they'd been working together for more than a decade. It was not easy to come through those hard times."

Sun has signed up for the national trials early next month. He will probably head to Australia for further training after that to prepare for the World Championship in July.