In a thrilling showdown at the National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen, star swimmers delivered a performance full of drama and passion! The highlight? The 200m freestyle final where Pan Zhanle, the 2024 Paris Olympics men's 100m freestyle champion, went head-to-head with three-time Olympic gold medalist Sun Yang. In an electrifying race, Olympic gold medalists Wang Shun and Pan, along with world champions Zhang Zhanshuo and Ji Xinjie, made the event truly unforgettable.
The race unfolded with pace and strategy: 200m medley champion Wang took an early lead, while Ji surged ahead after 150 meters. But it was Pan who powered through in the final 50 meters, touching the wall in 1:45.45 to claim his third gold medal of the meet, with Zhang grabbing silver and Ji earning bronze. Veteran Sun, showing commendable spirit by overcoming injury, finished 8th. The mutual respect was evident as Pan and Sun congratulated each other after the race.
"I only feel nervous without any other feeling," Pan shared, adding, "I focus on the details. I changed my strategy today as I used my power to rush mainly at the latter half. It's really great that I can swim with the two Olympic gold medalists, who are older than me. It's my honor to do so." Sun echoed the sentiment, saying, "I kept on going until the end and I felt really happy at this event. I met my expectations, so many thanks to myself and others."
Other events saw fantastic performances: Li Bingjie from Hebei broke the record in the women's 1,500m freestyle with a time of 15:43.94. Xu Jiayu triumphed in the men's 100m backstroke in 52.49 seconds, while Wan Letian clinched the women's 100m backstroke gold in 59.21 seconds. On the breaststroke front, Tang Qianting secured the women's 100m title and Qin Haiyang set a new event record in the men's 50m breaststroke semifinals at 26.54 seconds.
This star-studded encounter not only delivered intense competition but also reminded us that passion and tactical brilliance propel champions forward. Whether you're a die-hard sports fan or simply enjoy an inspiring underdog story, these swimmers prove that every lap counts in the race of life! 🏊♂️💥
Reference(s):
Chinese swimmers put on star-studded fight at National Championships
cgtn.com
