Sun Yang of China reacts after winning the men's 800m freestyle final at the Aquatics World Championships in Kazan, Russia, Aug 5, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

KAZAN - China's swimming star Sun Yang showed his dominance in the long distance freestyle by winning the men's 800m freestyle for the third straight time at the world championships on Wednesday.

Sun, 23, winner of the event at the 2011 and 2013 worlds, surpassed Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri after the 700m mark and led the last 100m to win the gold in seven minutes 39.96 seconds. Paltrinieri came second in 7:40.81, which is an European record. The bronze went to Mack Horton of Australia, who finished in 7:44.02.