In a spectacular display of speed and endurance, Chinese swimmer Sun Jiajun set a new Asian record in the 50 meters butterfly final at the China National Swimming Championships held in Wuhan on Wednesday.
Sun, a gold medalist from the Paris Olympics relay team, showcased his exceptional talent by smoothly advancing through the heats and semifinals, breaking the national record twice along the way. In the final, the 24-year-old swimmer dominated the race, completing the distance in an impressive 21.96 seconds, just 0.01 seconds faster than his semifinal performance.
This remarkable achievement not only highlights Sun's prowess in the pool but also secures his qualification for the upcoming year-ending short course world championships in Budapest. Reflecting on his performance, Sun expressed his determination, saying, \"I knew I could do well after I broke the national record yesterday. I pushed myself to the extreme yesterday and today I did improve a little bit more, but I think it's only a matter of how long I can keep this up for.\"
The championships were also a platform for other outstanding performances. In the women's 100m breaststroke, Shanghai's Tang Qianting dominated the semifinals with a time of 1 minute, 2.66 seconds, setting a new Asian record and coming within 0.3 seconds of the world record.
Additionally, in the women's 50m butterfly final, Zhang Yufei triumphed with a time of 25.16 seconds, despite taking a break from training after the Olympics. Zhang's victory was complemented by her win in the mixed 50m medley relay later that day, further cementing her status as one of the top swimmers in the region.
These stellar performances not only elevate the athletes' standings but also inspire young swimmers and sports enthusiasts across the region, showcasing the high level of competition and dedication present in Asian swimming.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
