Teen sensation looking to make a splash at LA28

Who is "Peiqi"?

For most, the answer would be the pink pig from the British animated series Peppa Pig. But after the 2025 World Junior Swimming Championships, the name may just as likely bring to mind Yang Peiqi, the Chinese swimming prodigy hailed by World Aquatics as "unstoppable".

At the recently concluded championships in Romania, the 18-year-old won gold in the women's 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle events, setting meet records in the 200m and 400m. She also helped China win gold in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay.

Over six days of competition, Yang collected five golds, one silver and one bronze, earning her the title of Best Female Athlete.

"This experience is extremely meaningful to me. Every race was full of challenges and opportunities, and it has helped me grow a lot," Yang said on social media, reflecting on her performance.

Though dominant in the pool, Yang is more reserved in front of reporters. With time, however, her humor emerges.

Asked to rate her performance in Romania, she offered two answers. "First, I'd give myself 99 points. I left one point to remind myself not to get too proud. Then, the second version: I'd give myself 80 points because I feel there are still areas where I can improve," she said with a smile.

Yang also competed at the World Championships in Singapore, where she was among the youngest in the field. At the junior meet, she found herself in the opposite role.

"After all, I'm the biggest one here," she said, describing the shift as making her feel "very passionate "during competitions.

The half-month gap between the two events did little to affect her stamina. "I have a lot of confidence in my physical endurance. I trained from Monday to Saturday in Beijing, so I really trust myself," she said.

Yang's rise has drawn comparisons to American star Katie Ledecky, whom she calls her idol. "I aim to reach her level. I haven't reached it yet, but I hope to get there," she said.

China's Li Bingjie has also looked to Ledecky as an example. At the World Championships, Li upset her heroine to take silver in the women's 400m freestyle, the first time she had beaten her. Yang, who finished seventh in that race, witnessed the moment firsthand.

"I've definitely imagined beating Ledecky, but that requires training day in, day out," Yang said. "During intense training, I swim seven to eight kilometers per session. On lighter days, I still swim around six kilometers."

Yang's drive has already spread to her teammates. Fifteen-year-old Yan Tiaoshan, who won three medals in Romania, credited Yang for pushing her forward.

"In the 400m freestyle, I swam next to Peiqi. When I first realized it, I was a bit nervous because Peiqi was incredibly fast, and I was worried about getting overwhelmed. But, as the race went on, I felt that, if I could stay one meter behind Peiqi, I'd just try my best to keep up. When we reached the 300m mark, I couldn't believe I had stayed with Peiqi for so long. In the final 100 meters, I saw her increase her pace, so I just stuck to my rhythm and fully trusted Peiqi," Yan said.

Afterward, she could hardly believe she had won silver.

"I think Peiqi is very stoic. She doesn't say much and is quite calm, but her performances in the races are something I can learn a lot from," Yan added.

Michael Palfrey, the Australian coach of the Chinese team, praised Yang's fighting spirit. "As you saw, in many races, she made her move to overtake her competitors in the last 50 or 100 meters. That perseverance, the willingness to push through until the end, is exactly what we've been emphasizing throughout the event, fighting with all your strength and showing resilience."

Looking ahead, Yang has set her sights on the sport's biggest stage. "My long-term goal is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. I want to stand on the podium," she said.

Xinhua