Wang Shun, Yu Zidi Triumph at Chinese Swimming Championships

Veteran Olympic champion Wang Shun and 13-year-old prodigy Yu Zidi delivered standout performances on the third day of the 2026 National Swimming Championships in Hangzhou, as China’s top swimmers vie for selection to the Nagoya Asian Games. The championships, running from June 16 to 21 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Aquatics Center, serve as the official trials for this year’s Asian Games in Japan.

Wang Shun’s Veteran Dominance

Wang Shun, the 32-year-old Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, won the men’s 400m individual medley with a time of 4:13.93, according to Xinhua News Agency. The victory adds to his legacy as one of China’s most decorated swimmers, following his 13th consecutive national title in the 200m individual medley on the opening day.

Competing in the grueling 400m distance presents unique challenges for an athlete of Wang Shun’s age. “Middle and long distance events are indeed challenging for us veterans,” Wang said after the race, as reported by Xinhua. “Lactate builds up quickly toward the end, and recovery is harder. But my coaching team and I believe that if we want to maintain a high level in the 200m individual medley, we still need to compete in the 400m event.”

Wang Shun’s strategic approach — using the longer distance to maintain sharpness in his signature 200m event — underscores the discipline that has sustained his career at the highest level. On Day 1, he won the men’s 200m individual medley in 1:56.16, extending his remarkable streak of national titles in the event to 13 consecutive years, as reported by ifeng.com.

Yu Zidi: A Prodigy’s Resilience

The women’s 400m freestyle saw 13-year-old Yu Zidi claim gold with a personal best of 4:05.06, narrowly ahead of Olympic medalist Tang Muhan (4:06.08) and Fan Yaqi (4:06.74). The victory marked a remarkable rebound for the young swimmer, who had been visibly distraught the previous day after finishing second in the women’s 200m individual medley.

Yu, who broke an Asian Record in the 200m individual medley at the 2025 National Games — surpassing Ye Shiwen’s legendary 2012 mark — and became the youngest medalist in World Swimming Championships history in Singapore last year, has faced intense scrutiny as a rising star. According to People’s Daily, she admitted to struggling with self-doubt after her second-place finish on Day 2.

“Actually, I don’t really care about the ranking this time — it’s the performance that disappointed me,” Yu explained after her gold medal win. “I felt like I’ve been training so hard these past few months, yet my results haven’t improved, and have even regressed. I started doubting myself. But after yesterday’s race, I adjusted my mindset and told myself not to overthink it.”

Her emotional journey — from tears in the mixed zone on Day 2 to a gold medal and personal best on Day 3 — has drawn attention to the psychological pressures faced by young elite athletes in China’s competitive sports system.

Other Standout Performances

The third competition day produced several other notable results. Fei Liwei won the men’s 1500m freestyle in 14:55.62, overcoming a recent period of poor form. “We all work hard and hit plateaus,” Fei said. “I think whether or not I can get past it, I have to try first.”

Peng Xuwei set a meet record in the women’s 200m backstroke (2:06.71), while Yu Yiting won the women’s 100m freestyle with a personal best of 53.43. Yu Yiting had also set an Asian Record in the women’s 200m individual medley (2:06.82) on Day 2. The Zhejiang provincial team won the men’s 4x100m medley relay in 3:33.77, featuring Olympic medalists Xu Jiayu and Pan Zhanle.

Xu Jiayu had earlier set an Asian Record in the men’s 50m backstroke (23.92) on Day 2, further signaling China’s strength ahead of the Nagoya Asian Games.

Looking Ahead to Nagoya

With the championships serving as the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, the performances in Hangzhou offer a compelling preview of China’s medal prospects. Wang Shun’s times in both medley events are internationally competitive, while the emergence of Yu Zidi and the depth shown across multiple disciplines suggest China is well-positioned for a strong showing in Japan.

As the championships continue through June 21, attention will focus on remaining events and the final selection decisions for the Asian Games squad. The coexistence of veteran champions like Wang Shun and teenage prodigies like Yu Zidi — with an 18-year age gap between Wang and 14-year-old competitor Xie Yichen in the 200m IM — demonstrates a healthy talent pipeline in Chinese swimming.

For Yu Zidi, who has already been nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award, the path ahead is clear. “I hope we can all keep working hard and have the chance to compete against each other again,” she said, looking ahead to future battles with her teammates.