In an electrifying display at the National Spring Swimming Championships in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Shanghai's star Qin Haiyang scooped the gold in the men's 100-meter breaststroke! With a blistering 58.61 seconds in the qualifiers and a 58.66-second finish in the final, Qin marked his triumphant return just six months after his standout performance in the men's 4×100-meter medley final at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. 🤩
"I should have been faster in the final than in the morning qualifiers, but I have not competed at big events for a long time," Qin explained. His candid admission and determination have added even more buzz to an event already filled with excitement.
The championships also saw fresh talent making waves. Shandong's teenager Zhang Zhanshuo clinched the men's 200-meter butterfly title, while Ji Xinjie impressed in the men's 200-meter freestyle. In a nail-biting finish, Guangdong's Lin Tao edged out his rivals in the men's 50-meter backstroke by just 0.01 second.
Over on the women's side, Wu Qingfeng of Zhejiang led the 50-meter freestyle charge, Peng Xuwei from Hubei dominated the 200-meter backstroke, and 19-year-old Yu Yiting shined in the 400-meter individual medley. These performances reflect a vibrant mix of seasoned athletes and emerging stars, promising even more thrilling challenges in the year ahead. 🏊♀️🏅
Reference(s):
Qin Haiyang claims first gold of 2025 at National Spring Championships
cgtn.com
