Olympic medalist Qin Haiyang marked his return to competitive swimming with a decisive victory in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke at China’s National Spring Swimming Championships in Qingdao, Shandong Province, on Thursday. Clocking 58.66 seconds in the final, the 26-year-old Shanghai athlete secured the first gold of the event, reinforcing his status as a key figure in China’s swimming roster.
Qin, who helped China secure a historic men’s 4×100-meter medley gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, acknowledged room for improvement. \"I’ve been rebuilding my rhythm post-Olympics,\" he said. \"Competing again after six months felt challenging, but this win is a positive step.\"
Emerging Talents Shine
The championships also spotlighted rising stars. Shandong’s Zhang Zhanshuo, 17, stunned spectators with a dominant 1:56.60 win in the men’s 200-meter butterfly, while 19-year-old Yu Yiting of Zhejiang claimed gold in the women’s 400-meter individual medley (2:10.73). Meanwhile, former world junior record holder Dong Zhihao settled for bronze in Qin’s breaststroke final, hinting at fiercer domestic competition ahead.
Regional Rivalries Heat Up
Provinces like Hubei and Zhejiang demonstrated depth across events. Peng Xuwei (Hubei) edged out rivals in the women’s 200-meter backstroke (2:06.54), and Zhejiang’s Wu Qingfeng triumphed in the women’s 50-meter freestyle (24.44 seconds). The men’s 200-meter freestyle saw Shandong’s Ji Xinjie clinch gold in 1:46.76, underscoring the event’s role as a proving ground for national team hopefuls.
With swimmers now eyeing spots for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, the results highlight both continuity among veterans and the rise of a new generation in Chinese swimming.
