Chinese swimmer Yang Junxuan has secured her spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris by breaking the women's 100-meter freestyle national record. She clocked an impressive 52.68 seconds at the Olympic Trials held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.
Yang's remarkable performance ranks as the eighth-best in the world this year, signaling a strong comeback after nearly a year of battling central nervous system (CNS) fatigue. This condition left her struggling to move freely in the water, severely hampering her training.
\"In the worst case at that time, after swimming a few hundred meters, I wouldn't be able to lift my arms,\" Yang shared with the China Media Group (CMG). \"If I continued, I would need people to rescue me from the pool.\"
Unlike typical injuries, CNS fatigue doesn't have a clear cause, making recovery a challenging process. Despite the uncertainty, Yang, along with her coach and medical team, persevered and regained her form in time for the Olympic Trials.
\"It made me think a lot about training and competing,\" Yang reflected. \"I realized that everyone has their own pace. I don't need to match others' progress. I just need to find my own pace.\"
Yang also delivered a strong performance in the women's 200-meter freestyle at the Trials, registering a time of 1:54.37—the fourth-best globally this year. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she played a pivotal role in securing gold for China in the women's 200-meter freestyle relay. Now, with the upcoming Paris Games, Yang feels a deeper sense of responsibility.
\"I can feel that there are more responsibilities and duties on my shoulders,\" Yang said. \"That's the notion I didn't feel before.\"
Reference(s):
Chinese swimmer Yang Junxuan back on track before 2024 Summer Olympics
cgtn.com
