Eighteen-year-old swimming sensation Zhang Zhanshuo made history at China's 15th National Games in Shenzhen this week, breaking the national junior record in the men's 200-meter freestyle with a blistering time of 1:44.86. The Shandong athlete's victory on November 13, 2025, follows his earlier 400-meter freestyle triumph, cementing his status as one of China's most promising young swimmers.
In a dramatic final, Zhejiang's Pan Zhanle led through the first 100 meters before Zhang executed a perfectly timed turn to seize control. Shandong teammate Ji Xinjie claimed silver, while Pan settled for bronze. The race saw unexpected drama as veteran swimmer Sun Yang, a crowd favorite, was disqualified for a false start during preliminary heats.
Other notable performances included Zhejiang's Xu Jiayu securing his fourth consecutive 100-meter backstroke title and Hebei's Li Bingjie dominating the women's 1,500-meter freestyle for the third straight year. Shanghai's Tang Qianting and Hubei's Peng Xuwei also claimed gold in women's breaststroke and backstroke events respectively.
The National Games continue through November, showcasing China's athletic talent across 34 sports. With multiple records already broken, the 2025 competition is proving to be a crucial platform for emerging athletes ahead of international competitions.
