Chinese swimming veteran Sun Yang, 33, demonstrated enduring excellence by securing a silver medal in the men’s 400-meter freestyle at China’s National Spring Swimming Championships on Wednesday. His time of 3:47.94 marked a significant improvement from last year’s performance, trailing only gold medalist Liu Peixin (3:46.80).
Sun, who was third at the race’s midpoint, surged in the final stretch to claim his podium finish. "This progress shows I am better than the Sun Yang of last year," he stated, emphasizing his renewed focus after a grueling winter training regimen. His preparation included high-altitude sessions—a method he hadn’t used in five years—which he described as "challenging and painful."
The athlete revealed he relied on knee injections to manage pain before competing. "At this age, injuries are inevitable, but I have to persevere," Sun said, underscoring his commitment to inspiring younger athletes. "Chinese swimming needs more athletes who can stay committed."
Other highlights included Sun Jiajun’s victory in the men’s 50m breaststroke (26.85) and Yu Yiting’s win in the women’s 50m butterfly (25.73). However, the spotlight remained on Sun Yang’s testament to resilience in a sport often dominated by younger competitors.
