The second-to-last day of the 2013 Chinese National Games on Tuesday produced yet another National and Asian Record, this time with China’s own answer to Katie Ledecky.
Women’s 800 Free – FINAL
16-year old Xin Xin won the girls’ 800 meter freestyle in 8:19.43. She, like Ledecky, is a very hard starter, having gone out in 2:03.20, and even though she gave up a little bit on the final kick over the last 50 meters, she still had more-than enough cushion to hold off the People’s Liberation Army’s Zhang Yuhan and her 8:21.22, as well as Zhejiang’s Bi Yirong in 8:24.35.
That swim for XinXin broke the 8:20.36 swum by Qian Chen in 2009 that had been both the Chinese National Record and the Asian Record.
Even though, for the first time at this meet, Zhejiang didn’t win a single event on Tuesday, they did pick up a medal in each of the four finals.
Women’s 200 Back – FINAL
After Liao Yali dominated the semi-final of this women’s 200 backstroke, the incoming favorite Zhao Jing from Hubei had a huge drop in finals with a 2:07.94; dropping the hammer on the final 50 meters to come-from-behind over Yali.
Zhao’s final time was 2:07.94, followed by Liao in 2:08.37.
In a distant 3rd, IM’er Ye Shiwen added her third individual medal in 2:09.62. This is an event that she’s spent a good amount of time toying with this year, though she’s unlikely still it seems to break through in the event on an international level.
Men’s 50 Free – FINAL
Ning Zetao from the People’s Liberation Army continued his impressive sprint streak at this meet. He was still unable to crack the 21.91 Asian Record that he swam in prelims, but he was a 21.96 – making him the first Asian man to go under 22 seconds three times.
In a tie for 2nd was Shanghai’s Shi Yang and Zhenjiang’s Lu Zhiwu in 22.30.
Men’s 100 Fly – FINAL
In the last final of the night, the men’s 100 fly, Guangdong’s Zhou Jiawei won in 51.88, holding off a furious finish from Shi Feng in 51.99.
Wu Peng, as he winds down his illustrious career, took 3rd in 52.10.
Full, live meet results available here.
SEMIFINALS
- 15-year old Chen Xinyi continued to look great, and versatile, touching for the top seed in the women’s 50 free semifinal in 24.87. Tang Yi took 2nd in 24.94, and Yang Li was 3rd in 24.95. It has been a while since a Chinese woman has gone under 25 seconds, and Le Jingyi’s Asian Record in the event has lasted for a long time, since 1994, at 24.51, and is due to be challenged.
- It was Zu Lijun who took the top seed in the men’s 1500 free in 15:09.39, while the World Record holder, defending World Champion, and defending Olympic Champion Sun Yang sits 2nd in 15:09.83. There was little danger for Sun in not finaling in this race, as he was in safely by 19 seconds.
The priority of competitions is different in China (maybe Asia). Results of the homeland meets has an effect on their livelihood and the rest of their families. It’s a different culture with different norms than western societies.
yes, yes we heard of that … becoming sort of an excuse for them to not compete or swim as fast in international competitions. bummer of us swim fans really.
If I were Ye.. and I had an offer of a great load of money fame house cars.. to do well on Chinese and Asian Games… and if one of them were together with Worlds.. I would grab the money easily..
Sun is on a league of his own.. If I recall corectly he already have a lot of financial back up by now..
This is getting kind of typical for the Chinese – She swam fast at the Chinese Olympic trials and then blew it in London. She doesn’t swim in Barcelona, but then swims lights out here.
And what I mean is consistency. Ye Shiwen is another example. They should take note of Sun Yang.