Sun still rising as China's 'most influential' star

Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang has been named China's "most influential athlete" for the fourth straight year, underlining the major roles celebrity and marketing play in forging stardom.

Sun, a three-time Olympic freestyle gold medalist, topped an annual ranking of the 50 most influential sports personalities in China, as voted by media representatives.

Board game sensation Ke Jie, the world's greatest Go player, ranks second, with men's table tennis star Zhang Jike third.