2025 CHINESE NATIONAL GAMES
- Monday, November 10th – Monday, November 17th (swimming)
- Shenzhen, China
- LCM (50m)
- Prelims at 9am local (8pm previous night ET)/Finals at 7pm local (6am ET)
- Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap/Day 3 Recap/Day 4 Recap
- Meet Central
- Results
- Livestream
Day five of the 2025 Chinese National Games is set to bring a battle for the gold in the women’s 200m butterfly.
13-year-old Yu Zidi carries the top-seeded time into the main event where she’ll need to fend off six-time Olympic medalist from Paris, Zhang Yufei.
The men’s 200m back semi-final will potentially set veteran Xu Jiayu to claim his 4th consecutive title in the event, while Pan Zhanle‘s appearance in the men’s 100m free is another marquis race in the session.
WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINAL
- World Record – 2:01.81, Liu Zige (CHN), 2009
- Asian Record – 2:01.81, Liu Zige (CHN), 2009
- CHN Record – 2:01.81, Liu Zige (CHN), 2009
GOLD – Chen Luying, 2:05.45
SILVER – Yu Zidi, 2:06.57
BRONZE – Zhang Yufei, 2:07.90
As expected, the trio of top-seeded Yu Zidi, six-time Olympic medalist from Paris Zhang Yufei and in-the-running Chen Luying represented the podium in the women’s 200m fly, albeit in a slightly different order than expected.
Last night, 13-year-old phenom Yu stopped the clock at 2:07.95 to land lane 4 for tonight’s main event. However, when the medals were on the line, it was former SCM 200 fly World Junior record holder Chen Luying who got to the wall first.
21-year-old Chen stopped the clock at a speedy mark of 2:05.45, leading wire-to-wire with splits of 28.07/32.43/32.61/32.34 to get the job done.
Yu settled for silver in 2:06.57 after surging ahead from being positioned in 5th place at the halfway point.
Zhang bagged the bronze in 2:07.90, shaving just under half a second off the 2:08.34 registered in the semi-finals.
The Asian record remains at the elusive 2:01.81 Liu Zige established during the supersuit era of 2009. Zhang has been as fast as 2:03.86 in her career, the time she turned in for gold at the 2020 Olympic Games.
As for Yu, her 2:06.57 was just a hair off her PB of 2:06.43 logged at this year’s World Championships en route to 4th place.
Chen enjoyed the biggest time drop, however, knocking her previous career-swiftest effort of 2:06.81 down by more than a second. She now checks in as China’s 5th-best women’s 200m fly performer in history.
Top 5 Chinese Women’s LCM 200 Fly Performers All-Time
- Liu Zige – 2:01.81, 2009
- Zhang Yufei – 2:03.85, 2021
- Jiao Liuyang – 2:04.06, 2012
- Jie Gong – 2:05.38, 2012
- Chen Luying – 2:05.45, 2025
WOMEN’S 100 FREE – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
- Asian Record – 52.02, Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 2023
- CHN Record – 52.48, Yang Junxuan (CHN), 2024
Top 8:
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 53.46
- Yang Wenwen – 54.23
- Yang Junxuan – 54.61
- Chen Yujie – 54.78
- Luo Mingyu – 54.91
- Zhu Menghui – 54.99
- Wu Yunhan – 55.00
- Wang Jingzhuo – 55.09
Olympic multi-medalist Sioban Haughey of Hong Kong set herself apart from the women’s 100m freestyle semi-finals with a stellar swim of 53.46.
Opening in 25.89 and closing in 27.57, 28-year-old Haughey notched the sole time of the field under the 54-second barrier, staking her claim on a possible gold after having already won the 200m free in stunning style last night.
We know Haughey is capable of putting up something way quicker, as she owns the Asian record at 52.02 from two years ago.
This is Haughey’s second elite competition since returning to the pool post-injury. The 28-year-old raced at the Hong Kong Age Group LC Championships earlier this month after having withdrawn from the 2025 World Championships due to a back injury.
The rest of the field includes Yang Wenwen who captured the 2nd seed in 54.23 followed by Chinese national record holder Yang Junxuan who will also flank Haughey, courtesy of her semi swim of 54.61.
MEN’S 200 IM – FINAL
- World Record – 1:52.69, Leon Marchand (FRA), 2025
- Asian Record – 1:54.62, Wang Shun (CHN), 2023
- CHN Record – 1:54.62, Wang Shun (CHN), 2023
GOLD – Wang Shun, 1:56.20
SILVER – Tuo Guannan, 1:59.86
BRONZE – Chen Nuo, 2:00.34
31-year-old Wang Shun was in an entirely different league of his own in this men’s 200m IM final, reaping gold in an impressive feat of 1:56.20.
He beat the pack by well over 3-and-a-half seconds, spitting 24.83/29.63/33.59/28.15 in the process.
Tuo Guannan turned in a time of 1:59.86 for the silver medal as Chen Nuo rounded out the podium in 2:00.34.
Wang owns the Chinese national record with his lifetime best of 1:54.62, a time he put on the books en route to earning gold at the 2023 Asian Games.
At the 2024 Olympic Games, Wang finished with the bronze as a follow-up to his 2020 Olympic Games gold and at this year’s World Championships, the veteran settled for 7th in 1:57.92.
Wang’s performance here ranks him #2 in the world at the moment.
2025-2026 LCM Men 200 IM
KOS
1:55.50
| 2 | Tomoyuki Matsushita | JPN | 1:55.60 | 11/30 |
| 3 | Kosuke Makino | JPN | 1:55.85 | 09/13 |
| 4 | Duncan Scott | GBR | 1:56.08 | 04/17 |
| 5 | Wang Shun | CHN | 1:56.20 | 11/14 |
MEN’S 100 FREE – FINAL
- World Record – 46.40, Pan Zhanle (CHN), 2024
- Asian Record – 46.40, Pan Zhanle (CHN), 2024
- CHN Record – 46.40, Pan Zhanle (CHN), 2024
GOLD – Pan Zhanle, 48.01
SILVER – Liu Wudi, 48.25
BRONZE – Wang Haoyu, 48.49 & Zhao Jiayue, 48.49
For a man who owns the current 100m freestyle world record with a historic swim of 46.40, 21-year-old Pan Zhanle‘s time in tonight’s final was underwhelming.
Pan stopped the clock at 48.01, which was enough for gold but Liu Wudi was only .24 behind in 48.25 as he became the silver medalist.
Wang Haoyu also landed on the podium in 48.49 for bronze, tying Zhao Jiayue.
As a refresher, Pan placed well off the men’s 100m free podium this year in Singapore, finishing in 10th overall with a time of 47.81.
WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 2:17.55, Evgenia Chikunova (RUS), 2023
- Asian Record – 2:19.65, Rie Kaneto (JPN), 2016
- CHN Record – 2:21.37, Qi Hui, 2009
Top 8:
- Zhu Leiju – 2:25.96
- Tang Qianting – 2:26.36
- Yu Jingyao – 2:27.40
- Chang Mohan – 2:27.63
- Liu Mengyang – 2:27.84
- Qu Jianting – 2:27.92
- Xu Jiayue – 2:28.58
- Ye Shiwen – 2:28.66
The two semi-finals of the women’s 200m breast saw swimmers hold their cards close to their chests and no one broke the 2:25 barrier.
Zhu Leiju was the top performer in 2:25.96; however, Tang Qianting, already the 100m breast gold medalist here, was less than half a second behind in 2:26.36.
The remaining finalists are also in the mix for the minor medals, including 29-year-old Ye Shiwen who squeaked into tomorrow night’s race with an 8th-seeded 2:28.66.
Ye is the reigning Asian Games champion, hitting 2:23.84 there in Hangzhou.
WOMEN’S 50 BACK – FINAL
- World Record – 26.86, Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
- Asian Record – 26.98, Liu Xiang (CHN), 2018
- CHN Record – 26.98, Liu Xiang (CHN), 2018
GOLD – Wan Letian, 27.38
SILVER – Wang Xueer, 27.50
BRONZE – Chen Jie, 27.76
The top 3 performers out of last night’s semi-finals of this women’s 50m backstroke remained in their places.
21-year-old Wan Letian, a medley relay bronze medalist at last year’s Olympic Games, registered a time of 27.38 to capture the gold narrowly.
Wang Xueer already earned bronze in the 100m back here and touched just .12 behind Wan in 27.50 for silver.
Chen Jie was also sub-28 with a mark of 27.76 for bronze.
Wan’s lifetime best checks in at 27.30, a time she put up to take the bronze at this year’s World Championships, so she was just a fingernail behind that result this evening.
MEN’S 200 BREAST – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 2:05.48, Qin Haiyang (CHN), 2023
- Asian Record – 2:05.48, Qin Haiyang (CHN), 2023
- CHN Record – 2:05.48, Qin Haiyang (CHN), 2023
Top 8:
- Qin Haiyang – 2:10.80
- Dong Zhihao – 2:12.34
- Wang Junteng – 2:12.66
- Mai Shiting – 2:12.91
- Liu Junjie – 2:13.48
- Yan Zibei – 2:13.64
- Zheng Yinghao – 2:13.88
- Xiong Wenrui – 2:14.31
World record holder Qin Haiyang holds a solid advantage over his peers as a result of his 2:10.80 swim tonight.
2024 world champion in this men’s 2breast event, Dong Zhihao looks primed to stake a claim; however, posting 2:12.34 ahead of Wang Junteng‘s semi swim of 2:12.66.
Qin’s time of 2:07.41 in Singapore rendered him the world champion.
MEN’S 200 BACK – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 1:51.92, Aaron Peirsol (USA), 2009
- Asian Record – 1:52.51, Ryosuke Irie (JPN), 2009
- CHN Record – 1:53.99, Xu Jiayu (CHN) 2018
Top 8:
- Wang Yutian – 1:59.52
- Xu Jiayu – 1:59.91
- Huang Zichun – 2:00.31
- Tao Guannan, 2:00.56
- Jiang Chenglin – 2:00.77
- Long Jianyao – 2:01.09
- Xue Yirui – 2:01.17
- Song Borui – 2:01.20
Olympic medalist Xu Jiayu is on his way to potentially grabbing his 4th consecutive title in the men’s 200m back, claiming the 2nd seed in 1:59.91.
That’s less than half a second back from the leader Wang Yutian who scored the top spot in 1:59.52.
The pair represented the sole swimmers to delve under the 2:00 barrier, making it anybody’s race for the minor medals tomorrow evening.
WOMEN’S 4×200 FREE RELAY – FINAL
- World Record – 7:37.50, AUS, 2023
- Asian Record – 7:40.33, CHN, 2021
- CHN Record – 7:40.33, CHN, 2021
GOLD – Hebei, 7:45.98
SILVER – Zhejiang, 7:46.71
BRONZE – Guangdong, 7:53.08
The combination of Yu Zidi, Zhang Ke, Ma Yonghui and Li Bingjie gave the Hebei squad the gold in the last event of the women’s 4x200m free relay.
Yu fired off an opening leg of 1:57.98 before Zhang continued in 1:57.41. Mau increased the speed with a 3rd split of 1:56.30 and Li crushed an anchor of 1:54.29 to get to the wall first.
Zhejiang settled for silver in 7:46.71 followed by Guangdong who hit 7:53.08 for the bronze.
Wan’s 50 back PB isn’t from Worlds, she went a 27.09 earlier this year at Chinese Spring Nationals but for some reason it’s not captured on WA’s database.
At this point in her career, I don’t know why Yufei doesn’t switch to the 100 free over the 200 fly. She was 52.8 years ago and she doesn’t even like the 200 fly. She has nothing to prove in that event anymore.
I think she’s probably done with the 200 fly after this meet
I mean 48 flat is still good time for gold.
For the year 2000
Pan really was after record breaking performances: the record of being underwhelming.
Popovici is after that 100 Free WR so Pans time may have already ran out
One season wonder Pan
I guess he really was a flash in the Pan.
Popovici also had a somewhat lukewarm year in 2023, focusing a bit more on his studies as I understand. Do not bury Pan so quickly.
I won’t underestimate a guy who went 46 four times last year and 46.4 in an olympic final. He had a down year, so what, many top athletes have, like Popovici in 2023
Pan had an incredible run. This just shows how difficult it is to maintain that level. I feel like Popovici will be the masterclass 100freestyler in the long term and ultimately reset the WR.
Remember how I said Pan is currently washed?
He better figure it out before Kim Youngbeom steals the Asian Games
He had a shoulder injury that he was managing throughout the year and lately he unfortunately got a back injury (he had tape on his lower back prior to the the 200 free), and all that limited and impacted his training this year.
Next time learn how to do say nice things or zip it troll.
He was breathing into the finish did not put his head down and died hard at the end of the 400m
It’s a stamina issue
RealCrocker is a bit sarcastic but why must he say nice things if he doesn’t think so ?
And call him a troll ?
The truth is 48.01 is bad up to his standards in an important meet for Chinese athletes.
Injuries could explain it (but uniquely ?) and he already quite missed up his worlds that summer too.
Pb of tapering or others, I don’t know but he is out of form now, that’s a fact.
His performance has indeed declined significantly, and it’s been like this all year. It’s unlikely he’ll return to his peak form from last year. Let’s see how it goes next year. I still hope he can recover and challenge Popovich; as a spectator, I think that would make the game much more exciting.
Anyway, there won’t be a potential battle between Pan and Popovich before 2027 worlds and we’re still a long way away.
Next year, Popovich could really take Pan Wr in european championships.
And yes, I really hope Pan could get back to his top form and continue to challenge Popovich.
Yu Zidi led off the 4×200 in 1:57.98
Spicy anchor from Li Bingjie 1:54.29
is that a PB?
Only by a few hundredths.
Honestly makes sense. Based on her 200 IM it looks like the bulk of the post-Worlds improvement is coming in Breaststroke, so we should still expect a strong 400 IM.
I watched her interview. She said she wasn’t very satisfied with her silver medal in the butterfly stroke, possibly because she had improved in training but didn’t perform at her best today
Wondering whether she will DNS the 800 free to rest then go all in for the 400 IM.
Slow, slow 100 free overall. Think we got a preview of Pan’s fitness after his subpar relay splits earlier in the meet.
Pan is yet another swimmer who was faster at Worlds.
Wow what a great discovery Philip 🤦🏻♂️
Are you gonna be posting the same comment in every thread ?
Go focus on swimmers from your country, who were slower at Worlds than their trials.
Don’t be angry. Just want to point this out because many were expecting faster swims (“National Games are priority”).
Even children aren’t safe from the photocurse.