Hey there, swimming fans! 🏊♂️ Have you heard about the amazing races at the Chinese National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen? Let’s dive in! 🌊
Pan Zhanle Takes the Lead
In an electrifying 200m freestyle race, 2024 Paris Olympics men’s 100m freestyle champion Pan Zhanle went head to head with legendary swimmer Sun Yang! 🌟
The race was packed with stars, including three Olympic gold medalists: Sun Yang, Wang Shun, and Pan Zhanle, plus world champions Zhang Zhanshuo and Ji Xinjie. Talk about a splashy showdown! 🏅
At first, Wang Shun, the 200m medley champion, shot ahead. But after 150 meters, Ji Xinjie surged into the lead. Then, in the last 50 meters, Pan Zhanle unleashed his speed! He touched the wall first with a time of 1:45.45, grabbing his third gold medal at the event! 🥇
Zhang Zhanshuo earned the silver medal, and Ji Xinjie took home the bronze. 🌟
Sportsmanship Shines Bright
Even though Sun Yang, the oldest athlete in the tournament, finished 8th, he showed true sportsmanship. After the race, Pan and Sun congratulated each other. 🤝
“I felt nervous but focused on the details,” Pan said. “It’s really great that I can swim with two Olympic gold medalists who are older than me. It’s my honor!” 🎖️
Sun Yang shared, “I kept on going until the end and I felt really happy at this event. I met my expectations, so many thanks to myself and others.” 🌠
More Record-Breaking Moments
The excitement didn’t stop there! Li Bingjie from Hebei won the women’s 1,500m freestyle, smashing the tournament record with a time of 15:43.94! 🏊♀️⏱️
Xu Jiayu won the men’s 100m backstroke in 52.49 seconds, and Wan Letian claimed gold in the women’s 100m backstroke with 59.21 seconds. Awesome swims! 🥇
Tang Qianting secured the women’s 100m breaststroke title, and Qin Haiyang broke the event record in the men’s 50m breaststroke semifinals with 26.54 seconds. Way to go! 🚀
An Unforgettable Championship
This year’s National Swimming Championships was full of thrilling races, new records, and incredible athletes showing their best. Who else is excited to see these swimmers shine on the world stage? 🌍✨
Keep swimming towards your dreams, and maybe one day, you’ll be the one making waves! 🌊🏊♂️
Reference(s):
Chinese swimmers put on star-studded fight at National Championships
cgtn.com
