Youth inspires wave of optimism

Entering the first year of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, the Chinese swimming team cemented its unrivaled dominance in Asia by claiming 28 gold medals with a streamlined 11-member squad at the 11th Asian Aquatics Championships.

The year also saw the enduring excellence of such veterans as Wang Shun and Xu Jiayu, alongside record-breaking feats from teenage prodigies like Yu Zidi.

However, the team suffered a decline at the 22nd World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, securing just two golds — down from five at the previous edition in Fukuoka, Japan in 2023 — a result which exposed the gap with such global powerhouses as the United States and Australia.

At the Singapore championships, China's Qin Haiyang claimed the team's two golds in the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke. These victories helped him renew his confidence and shake off the disappointment of his individual performances at the Paris Olympics.

"I think I did a good job. I am most satisfied that I stayed calm under pressure and performed to my current limit. These wins in a tough year have given me strong confidence for the new cycle," said Qin, who also added a bronze in the men's 50m breaststroke.

In the women's 400m freestyle final, 23-year-old Li Bingjie overtook American star Katie Ledecky in the closing moments to take silver with a time of 3:58.21, setting a new Asian record. It was her first-ever victory over Ledecky.

"This win (over Ledecky) means a lot to me," she said afterward.

Li also claimed silver in the 200m freestyle, unleashing a powerful final 20-meter surge to finish in 1:54.52.

The relay teams added two silver medals to the tally. The men's 4x200m freestyle quartet of Ji Xinjie, Pan Zhanle, Wang Shun, and Zhang Zhanshuo broke the Asian record in 7:00.91, while the mixed 4x100m medley team of Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei and Wu Qingfeng also finished second.

A fresh pool of talent

One of the biggest surprises of the championships was Yu Zidi.

Aged 12 at the time, she was making her international debut, reaching the finals in the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley, placing fourth in all three events. She also helped the Chinese team to bronze in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay, becoming the youngest medalist in a major international swimming competition since 1936.

"My next goal is the podium at the Budapest World Aquatics Championships in 2027," Yu said, "and further ahead, the Olympics."

Yu continued to wow spectators a few months later at November's 15th National Games. Having just turned 13, she left the pool with three golds, one silver, and one bronze — making her the youngest swimming champion in the sporting gala's history.

Her defining moment was a stunning 2:07.41 in the women's 200m individual medley, which shattered a 13-year Asian record. She went on to add a silver medal in the women's 200m butterfly, ahead of Olympic champion Zhang Yufei, but behind winner Chen Luying.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo announced himself as a force in men's freestyle. In his National Games debut, he delivered a golden triple, winning the 200m, 400m, and 800m events and breaking national youth records in all three.

His 400m victory in 3:42.82 — a new world junior record — came over Chinese titans Sun Yang and Pan Zhanle.

He later edged them out again in the 200m freestyle, clocking 1:44.86, a time that would have been competitive at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Despite his breakthroughs, Zhang remained grounded.

"I'm happy, but there's really nothing to celebrate. Yu Zidi is only 13 and already broke an Asian record. I still have a lot to learn," he said.

His rapid rise has positioned him as China's most promising new force in men's mid — and long-distance freestyle, and a major medal hope for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Paris 2024 Olympic champion and 100m freestyle world record holder Pan claimed gold in his signature event with a time of 48.01 seconds, his sole individual title of the meet.

A challenging post-Olympic year was marred by a dip in form, which saw him miss the 100m final at July's world championships in Singapore, a setback widely attributed to fatigue from frequent commercial activities following Paris 2024.

Pan, though, is focused on resurgence. "My goal for this new cycle is to dedicate myself to training, rebuild my confidence, and rediscover my best self," Pan said.

Veterans hold ground

While the new stars shone, the veterans reaffirmed their class. Thirty-year-old Xu Jiayu completed a backstroke sweep at the National Games, winning the 50m, 100m, and 200m titles — his fourth consecutive national titles in the latter two events.

After Paris 2024, he focused on technical refinement to optimize his starts and maintain speed.

"Through technical updates, I aim to mitigate the disadvantages of age and extend my career," Xu said. "As a veteran, I hope to set an example for the younger generations, showing that with discipline, an athlete can have greater longevity."

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Wang Shun captured four golds at the 15th National Games, bringing his historic career total at the event to 19, the most by any athlete in National Games history.

On the women's side, 28-year-old Zhang Yufei, one of China's most decorated Olympians with two golds, three silvers and five bronzes, swept the women's 50m and 100m butterfly titles, proving that experience remains a potent force in the pool.

Yet, the sustained dominance of these stalwarts on the domestic scene also hints at an underlying tension within the squad's talent pipeline. While they continue to set the standard at home, their relative competitiveness on the international stage has shown signs of waning, underscoring the critical need for the emerging generation to swiftly bridge the gap, and do so consistently, against the world's best.

xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn