2019 CHINESE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, September 4th – Thursday, September 12th
- Anshan City, China
- Prelims at 6 pm local; Finals at 10 am local
- Results available via Chinese Swim app
- Chinese Swimming News and Results Twitter
Wang Jinajiahe continued to be the leading figure at this week’s Chinese National Championships. The 17-year old, who is local to Anshan, won her 6th title of the meet on Wednesday when she dominated the women’s 800 free.
Jianjiahe swam 8:30.91 for the win, beating out her teammate Hou Yawei, who took 2nd in 8:31.60. Wang is the defending World Short Course Champion in the 800 free, the defending Asian Champion in the 800 free, and took 2019 long course World Championship bronze in the 1500 free.
Wang has also won the 200, 400, and 1500 freestyles individually in addition to 2 relay medals.
The other big story of the day was the first-career national title for 12-year old Wang Jiayin in her specialty event: the women’s 200 backstroke. After a breakout swim of 2:10.79 in the event at the Chinese Youth Games a month ago, Wang Jiayin on Wednesday swam 2:10.45 to beat Liu Yaxin (2:11.41) and Peng Xuwei (2:11.55). She is now in line with a potential spot at the 2020 Olympic Games: China’s finishers at the World Championships were Liu Yaxin in 16th place (2:10.72 in prelims, 2:12.93 in semis) and Peng Xuwei in 22nd place (2:12.41 in prelims).
For the sake of comparison, the fastest female 12-year old 200 meter backstroke in US history is a 2:15.17 done by Elizabethe Beisel in 2005. The fastest by an American male at that age is a 2:10.01. Australia doesn’t keep age records for 12-year olds, but for 13-year olds, the best by a female is 2:12.04 done by Kaylee McKeown in 2015.
On the men’s side, the lone individual championship of the day was the 100 fly, where Li Zhuhao squeaked out a link in 53.43, .01 faster than runner-up Chen Chaoqi. IM specialist Wang Shun took 3rd in 53.64.
Thursday, September 12th, will be the final day of the 9-day championship meet. The Chinese have used morning finals sessions and evening prelims sessions in preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games, which will employ the same flipped schedule.
Wednesday Semi-Final Leaders
- M 50 free: Yu Hexin 22.72
- W 50 free: Liu Xiang 24.77
Wednesday Finals Results
#CHNNationalSwimChamps
Day 7 final – W 800 free
🥇Wang Jianjiahe 8:30.91
🥈Hou Yawen 8:31.50
🥉Bi Wenxin 8:35.87 pic.twitter.com/CiIv5oycsc— Chinese Swimming News and Results (@fan_swimming) September 11, 2019
#CHNNationalSwimChamps
Day 7 final – W 200 back
🥇Wang Jiayin 2:10.45
🥈Liu Yaxin 2:11.41
🥉Peng Xuwei 2:11.55 pic.twitter.com/1CXjJO9wUK— Chinese Swimming News and Results (@fan_swimming) September 11, 2019
#CHNNationalSwimChamps
Day 7 final – M 100 fly
🥇Li Zhuhao 53.43
🥈Chen Chaoqi 53.44
🥉Wang Shun 53.64 pic.twitter.com/XEX9h6zIxG— Chinese Swimming News and Results (@fan_swimming) September 11, 2019
thats ridiculous for a 12 year old ……..hard to turn my head around that time
Isnt 12 yrs, even 13 next yr, too young to compete at the Olymiic Games? I thought there was an age restriction?
The minimum age for swimming for women is 14 and men is 15, though those rules only apply to “Universality” swimmers. Once an athlete has hit a “B” standard, the rules no longer apply, which is the case with Wang. The goal is to protect against countries using universality places on exceedingly young swimmers who are not qualified to be there, which has happened in the past. Interestingly, that rule is not actually listed in the Olympic qualifying document, but is listed in the World Championship qualifying document as applying to both Worlds and the Olympics.
Is there video of the 12 y.o. prodigy swimming the 200 back in 2:10?
It would be interesting to see her performance in the race.
Doesn’t it surprise you that a flea can jump up 7” high and up to 19” long being 1/10 of inches in size.
What amazes me more then that is 2:03 at the age of just 17.
P.S. how tall is this girl and what is her weight?
Regan Smith didn’t go close to a 2:10 at 12.
That doesn’t necessarily mean anything in terms of open success, but this girl could be a big time contender as soon as next year.
Or she could never get much faster. We will just have to wait and see.
do you remember wang yi chun, she didn’t improve during last 2 years. 🙂 these 2 girls come from the same team.
Chinese at lest are not well known to be that good in the 200 back …..so lets see how it unfolds in this case
She’s probably not actually 12…
lol
Related to the older Wang J?
93 million Chinese people have the family name Wang. That’s more Wang’s in China than there are Germans in Germany. I doubt it haha.
But you won’t probably find as many WANG’s as SMITH’s at recent international competitions.
No, their hometowns are 960 miles apart.
Press X to doubt