China's National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen witnessed thrilling performances this weekend, with rising stars Qin Haiyang and Yu Yiting cementing their status as athletes to watch ahead of international competitions.
Qin Haiyang of Shanghai dominated the men's 100-meter breaststroke, clocking a season-best 58.61 seconds. Jiangsu's Dong Zhihao pushed Qin to the limit, trailing closely until the final stretch. The victory reinforces Qin's reputation as a leading contender in breaststroke events globally.
Yu Yiting delivered a standout double victory for Zhejiang. The 19-year-old first edged Olympic medalist Zhang Yufei by 0.09 seconds in the women's 100-meter butterfly (57.30 seconds), then claimed gold in the 200-meter individual medley just over an hour later with a time of 2:08.67. Zhang, who won silver at Tokyo 2021 and bronze at Paris 2024, acknowledged Yu's 'explosive potential' in post-race interviews.
Guangdong's Chen Juner also impressed, winning the men's 50-meter butterfly in 23.41 seconds. The championships highlighted China's deepening talent pool as athletes prepare for upcoming international meets.
