Daily Match Report – June 12: Pool Boils Over! 18-Year-Old Dark Horse Stays on Top, While 30-Year-Old Veteran Rebounds Stronger Than Ever
11 Month12 Today marked the first gold-medal-intensive day at the swimming venue of the 15th National Games. Along the shimmering poolside, rising stars showcased their impressive talents, while seasoned veterans upheld the legacy, as the fruits of scientific training began to shine through.“Mentorship and Guidance” The sportsmanship intertwined, delivering to the audience a thrilling event that combined elite athletic performance with profound spiritual depth.
11 Month12 Quick Recap of Today's Finals Results
🔹 Zhang Zhanshuo：18-year-old double-gold medalist rewrites youth record, a microcosm of Shandong's rising swimming prowess.
Key highlights: The athlete clinched the men’s 200m freestyle gold in a dominant 1:44.86, breaking the national youth record. This victory marks his second gold medal at the Games, following his triumph in the 400m freestyle. He secured his spot in the final with a commanding performance in the semifinals, finishing first in 1:46.89. Competing against renowned swimmers like Pan Zhanle, he showed no signs of intimidation, even confidently stating after his win: "I’ll humbly seek advice from my seniors moving forward."
In the men's 200m freestyle final, Shandong's Zhang Zhanshuo swam a time of 1 minute 44.86 seconds, clinching the gold medal and breaking the national record. Pictured here: Zhang Zhanshuo celebrates his victory. (Photo by An Lingjun, China Sports Photo)
🔹 Li Bingjie: Three-Time Champion in the Long-Distance Events—Her Dominance Forged Through High-Altitude Training
The women's 1500m freestyle final saw her clinch the gold medal in an impressive time of 15:55.40, breaking the meet record in the process. This victory marks her third consecutive All-China Games title in this event—and it also secures her second gold of the tournament, following her earlier triumph in the women's 400m freestyle.
🌟 "Champion Mentor": As a leading figure in Hebei's swimming team, he proactively shared his insights on high-altitude training after the competition, openly stating, "Our results are a reflection of the team's scientific approach to training." His consistent performance has set a tactical benchmark for young athletes in long-distance events.
In the women's 400m freestyle final, Hebei athlete Li Bingjie clinched the gold medal. Pictured here is the award ceremony venue. (Photo by An Lingjun, China Sports Photo)
🔹 Xu Jiayu: Backstroke King Easily Defends Title—Wins Gold in Men’s 100m Backstroke Final with a Time of 52.39 seconds, finishing 1.49 seconds ahead of the silver medalist. In the semifinals, he clocked 52.70 seconds, leading the second-place swimmer by 1.5 seconds and becoming the only competitor to break the 54-second barrier. His start reaction time was an impressive 0.62 seconds, and he powered through the first 50 meters in just 25.10 seconds, building nearly a full-second lead. His turn technique and underwater gliding skills remain among the best in China, with his performance just 0.53 seconds shy of his own national record of 51.86 seconds.
🔹 Tang Qianting: Breaking New Ground in Breaststroke, Secures First Gold Medal to Usher in a Fresh Chapter
The women's 100m breaststroke final saw her clinch gold in an impressive time of 1:05.36, becoming the only athlete at this year's event to break the 1:06 mark. She topped both the preliminary and semifinal rounds, advancing as the overall leader and finishing a commanding 1.34 seconds ahead of silver medalist Yang Chang (1:06.70). This gold medal not only marks her first-ever individual event gold at the National Games but also secures the second swimming title for the Shanghai delegation.
Pool Highlight from the 12th: Tradition and Breakthrough in the Clash Between Old and New
"The Final Chapter of the 'Zhanzi' Dynasty: The 18-Year-Old Dark Horse Combines Swagger and Humility"
The men's 200m freestyle final delivered a thrilling "clash of old and new" — at the 50-meter mark, Pan Zhanle took the lead with a time of 24.23 seconds, while Zhang Zhanshuo held steady in third place. By the 100-meter turn, both swimmers were tied at 51.21 seconds, their powerful strokes creating splashes that made it nearly impossible to tell who was ahead. In the final 50 meters, Zhang Zhanshuo suddenly surged forward, increasing his stroke length dramatically to 1.8 meters per stroke, ultimately clocking in at 1:44.86 to break the national youth record and claim victory. As he touched the wall, he spread his arms wide, eagerly waving for applause from the crowd—then pointed skyward, forming a "1" with his fingers to celebrate his triumph. The roar of the cheering spectators nearly drowned out the sound of water rippling in the pool. Yet in the mixed zone, he instantly reverted to his reserved demeanor, humbly acknowledging, "Team Pan is my idol; he even encouraged me before the race. I’ve got so much to learn from him—and from senior legend Sun Yang." This mix of awe and respect as the "new king" ascended the podium perfectly encapsulates the enduring legacy and mentorship that define the swimming world.
Swimming Star's "Four-Time Champion Declaration": A Flag-Bearing Moment for the 30-Year-Old Veteran
The men’s 100m backstroke final turned into Xu JiaYu’s "personal showcase": His start reaction time was an impressive 0.62 seconds, and he powered through the first 50 meters in just 25.10 seconds, pulling ahead by nearly a full second. Even during the underwater butterfly kick transition at the turn, he glided 2 meters farther than his competitors. In the end, Xu clinched victory in 52.39 seconds—1.49 seconds ahead of the runner-up. As he stepped onto the podium, he clenched his fists tightly, gazing toward the Zhejiang team stands. After the race, he openly declared, "As the flag bearer, I’ll carry the torch for Zhejiang’s swimming team." He also expressed his heartfelt hope that emerging young talents in backstroke will soon "take over" on the international stage. From his first title in 2013 to his fourth consecutive win in 2025, Xu has cemented his legacy over the past eight years—a remarkable journey marked by four triumphant finishes that highlight both his unwavering dedication and his forward-thinking vision for the future of Chinese swimming.
📅 Swimming Final Schedule for the 13th (Prime Time):
🌟 Key Highlights at a Glance: 5 Gold Medal Finals + Star-Studded Showdowns
1. Women's 200m Freestyle Final (7:13 PM)
▶️ Asia Record-Breaking Showdown: Li Bingjie (Olympic Champion) VS Ho Suk-wai (Hong Kong Star Athlete)
Two Asian record holders go head-to-head! Siobhan Haughey holds the Asian records in the 100m and 200m freestyle, while Li Bingjie reigns supreme in the longer distances—this clash of "speed meets endurance" could very well lead to a new record.
▶️ Dark Horse Alert: 13-year-old record-breaking prodigy makes a crossover debut, just shattered Ye Shiwen's 13-year-old Asian record—can this young star ignite another wave of youthful dominance?
2. Men's 800m Freestyle Final (7:00 PM)
▶️ Medal: Zhejiang team has dominated this event for years—can Shandong's rising star break the status quo?
3. Men's and Women's 4x100m Mixed Medley Relay Final (after 7:00 PM)
▶️Olympic champions like Zhang Yufei and Xu JiaYu are highly likely to make their final, star-studded appearance.
▶️ New regulations boost the game: With the addition of short-distance events, relay tactics are becoming even more aggressive—could a split-second, 0.01-second finish decide the race in the final sprint!
4. Men's 200m Butterfly Final (7:48 PM)
▶️ Cross-border Impact: 31-year-old Olympic champion balances between individual medley and butterfly, taking on the new generation led by Pan Zhanle—can the all-around powerhouse add another gold medal to his tally?
5. Men's 50m Breaststroke Final (New Event)
▶️ Youth Storm ShowdownAt 20 years old, Dong Zihao takes on the veteran defense—this event marks the debut of an Olympic-inspired addition to this year’s Games, making the race for the first-ever National Games gold medal utterly suspenseful.
💡 Highlighting the Highlights
✅ 13-year-old prodigy Yu Zidi charges toward another record: She just broke the women’s 200m individual medley Asian record and will compete in multiple events;
✅ Short-Distance Revolution: 6 New Events Make Their Debut at the National Games, Fully Aligning with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics;
✅ New Forces in the Bay Area: Swimmers like Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey and Macau's Zheng Yingzhi compete for the first time, marking a historic moment of integration among the swimming communities of the three regions.
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