All eyes were on Shenzhen this Monday as China's top swimmers delivered a blockbuster performance at the National Swimming Championships in south China's Guangdong Province. In a star-studded 200m freestyle showdown, 2024 Paris Olympics men's 100m freestyle champion Pan Zhanle went head to head with three-time Olympic gold medalist Sun Yang, with Pan touching first for Zhejiang.
The final was a clash of titans, featuring three Olympic gold medalists—Sun, Wang Shun, and Pan—alongside world champions Zhang Zhanshuo and Ji Xinjie. 200m medley champion Wang led early, but Ji moved into first after 150 meters. Pan unleashed his speed in the final 50 meters, touching the wall in 1:45.45 to secure his third gold of the meet. Zhang earned silver while Ji claimed bronze. Veteran Sun, overcoming injury as the oldest athlete in the tournament, finished eighth. After the race, Pan and Sun congratulated each other.
"I only feel nervous without any other feeling," Pan said. "I focus on the details. I changed my strategy today as I used my power to rush mainly at the latter half. It's really great that I can swim with the two Olympic gold medalists, who are older than me. It's my honor to do so."
"I kept on going until the end and I felt really happy at this event," Sun said. "I met my expectations so many thanks to myself and others."
Other Championship Highlights
- Li Bingjie from Hebei won the women's 1,500m freestyle, touching first in 15:43.94 to break the tournament record.
- Xu Jiayu won the men's 100m backstroke in 52.49 seconds.
- Wan Letian claimed gold in the women's 100m backstroke with 59.21 seconds.
- Tang Qianting secured the women's 100m breaststroke title.
- Qin Haiyang broke the men's 50m breaststroke semifinal record with 26.54 seconds.
These performances capped a thrilling day in Shenzhen, highlighting the depth and talent of China's swimmers.
Reference(s):
Chinese swimmers put on star-studded fight at National Championships
cgtn.com
