China Swimming Junior Training World Championships
The World Swimming Championships in Doha is just around the corner. The members of the China Swimming Team who participated in the open waters arrived in Doha on January 30th, and the major troops went out a week later. The China Swimming Team sent 21 athletes (13 women and 8 men) to participate in the swimming competition, and 4 athletes (2 women and 2 men) participated in the open water swimming competition.
Because of the long preparation time of swimming events, athletes often need to adjust their competitive state according to the competition. Doha Swimming World Championships is the first time that FINA has held the Long Pool World Championships in the Olympic Games year. It is only five months away from the Olympic Games, so many famous athletes choose to give up. Many Olympic champions and world champions of China Swimming Team, including Wang Shun, Ye Shiwen, Zhang Yufei, Qin Haiyang and Xu Jiayu, will be absent from this World Championships.
A few days ago, the individual registration of Doha Swimming World Championships was announced, and the China team reported eight relay events, becoming one of the four relay teams. The China Swimming Team in this World Championships is led by teenagers. Li Bingjie, Pan Zhanle, Yu Yiting and Tang Qianting are on the list, and rising stars Fei Liwei, Zhang Zhanshuo and Dong Zhihao will also appear in Doha.
Li Bingjie, as the only Olympic champion of the national swimming team in Doha World Championships, is expected to win a single gold medal in the women’s long-distance freestyle in the World Championships. Earlier, she said in an interview, "There are many strong opponents in this World Championships, but I will try my best to fight and seize the opportunity."
Yu Yiting, who won a bronze medal in the women’s 200m individual medley at the Fukuoka World Championships, swam 2 minutes 07.75 seconds at the Hangzhou Asian Games. After winter training, Yu Yiting is expected to achieve self-breakthrough while training in Paris at this World Championships.
For men, Pan Zhanle swam 47.43 seconds in the men’s 100m freestyle in Fukuoka World Championships, ranking fourth. At the World Championships in Doha, he will attack the podium.
16-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo will welcome his first adult international competition. At the World Youth Championship last September, he won the runner-up in the 400-meter medley in 4 minutes, 12.44 seconds, making him the fastest athlete aged 16 and under in this event. Zhang Zhanshuo is also the athlete with the most events reported by the China team in this World Championships. He will compete in the men’s 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle and the men’s 200m and 400m medley.
Dong Zhihao, who set a new world youth record in the men’s 200m breaststroke at the Fukuoka World Championships, is a rising star in China’s men’s breaststroke, and he is expected to win a medal at this World Championships.
The results of this World Championships will be one of the references for the selection of China swimming team for the Paris Olympic Games. The young players of China team participating in this World Championships should not only strive for gold and silver, but also test the winter training results and accumulate competition experience for the Paris Olympic Games with the purpose of replacing training with competition, promoting training with competition and combining training with competition.
In terms of open waters, 10 km for men and women is an Olympic event, and the top three in Fukuoka World Championships and the top 13 in Doha World Championships (in case of duplication, it will be postponed) are qualified for the Paris Olympic Games. Xin Xin, the champion of Gwangju World Championships in 2019, has been plagued by injury and illness in the past two years, and his performance has been ups and downs. This time, he will make a final effort to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games. Zhejiang teenager Mao Yihan qualified for the World Championships in open water and swimming through the national trials, expecting the new star’s double-track performance on the field.
Internationally, the Australian team sent 18 players, including McEvoy, the world champion of 50m freestyle, Winnington, the world champion of 400m freestyle, Nana Jack, the famous woman short-distance freestyle, and Cooper, the man backstroke.
Korcan, who did not take part in the Fukuoka World Championships, competed in many backstroke and butterfly events by himself. Kate Douglas competed in freestyle, medley, breaststroke, butterfly and so on. This year, she and Ledecky were named the best female athlete in the United States. Katie Grimes and Claire, who specialize in freestyle, will also make their debut in Doha. Male athletes include Armstrong, a famous backstroke player, mcandrew, who specializes in 50-meter short distance, and Nick Fink, a famous breaststroke player. Recently, after adjustment, the American team has increased from the original five female athletes to eight, and will participate in five relay races involving women.
A total of 26 players from the Canadian team participated in this World Championships. Although McNeil and McIntosh were absent, medley star Pickering and freestyle star Taylor Luke will show their talents.
New Zealand’s Erika entered the women’s 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, and will compete with Li Bingjie for the championship in the 400m freestyle.
Italian long-distance freestyle star Quadarella entered the women’s 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle, which is also a favourite for the championship.
The Japanese team only sent three female athletes and nine male athletes, and will participate in the men’s 4× 100m medley relay and the men’s and women’s 4× 100m medley relay.
South Korea sent men’s freestyle players such as Huang Xuanyou, Jin Yumin and Li Haojun. Huang Xuanyou signed up for the men’s 100m, 200m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay event. (From January 31st, China Sports Daily, 01 edition)