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/Day 5 Recap/Day 6 Recap
- Meet Central
- Results
- Livestream
We’ve entered the penultimate night of action at the 2025 Chinese National Games, taking place in Shenzhen.
That means we’ll be treated to four medal-contending races this evening, including the women’s 50m fly, men’s 50m free, men’s 100m fly and women’s 800m free.
But we also have a trio of semi-finals unfolding to set up the last session for tomorrow. The women’s 50m breast, women’s 50m free and men’s 50m back will see swimmers battle it out in the hopes of making the final eight slots.
WOMEN’S 50 FLY – FINAL
- World Record – 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2014
- Asian Record – 25.05, Zhang Yufei (CHN), 2023
- CHN Record – 25.05, Zhang Yufei (CHN), 2023
GOLD – Zhang Yufei, 25.61
SILVER – Wu Qingfeng, 25.72
BRONZE – Yu Yiting, 25.79
The top three finishers represented the sole competitors to clear the 26-second barrier in this women’s 50m butterfly final.
27-year-old Zhang Yufei, the national record holder, got to the wall first, stopping the clock in 25.61.
That held a small advantage over Wu Qingfeng who settled for silver just .11 behind in 25.72.
Top-seeded Yu Yiting was relegated to the bronze medal position in 25.79, slightly slower than the 25.71 notched. last night.
Zhang now ranks #1 in the world this season.
2025-2026 LCM Women 50 FLY
Walsh
25.08
| 2 | Kate Douglass | USA | 25.24 | 05/01 |
| 3 | Zhang Yufei | CHN | 25.27 | 06/21 |
| 4 | Alexandria PERKINS | AUS | 25.44 | 03/07 |
| 5 | Wu Qingfeng | CHN | 25.48 | 06/21 |
MEN’S 50 FREE – FINAL
- World Record – 20.91, Cesar Cielo (BRA), 2009
- Asian Record – 21.64, Shuya Matsumoto (JPN), 2025
- CHN Record – 21.68, Yu Hexin, 2021
GOLD – Ian Ho (HKG), 21.71
SILVER – Chen Hao, 22.17
BRONZE – Liu Wudi, 22.21 & Pan Zhanle, 22.21
28-year-old Ian Ho of Hong Kong just turned in the fastest 50m freestyle of his career, ripping a time of 21.71 to defeat his competitors handily.
Ho checked in as the sole sub-22-second swimmer, with top-seeded Chen Hao downgraded to silver in 22.17, just off his new PB of 22.14 from last night.
We saw a tie for the bronze, with Liu Wudi and 100m free world record holder and Olympic champion Pan Zhanle touching simultaneously in 22.21.
As for Ho, his effort this evening erased his former HKG national record of 21.82 put up in the heats of the event at this year’s World Championships. There in Singapore, the veteran ultimately placed 16th in 22.15.
Ho is the sole swimmer in the world at the moment who has clocked a 21-point LCM 50 freestyle this season.
2025-2026 LCM Men 50 FREE
McEvoy
WR 20.88
| 2 | Egor KORNEV | RUS | 21.06 | 06/09 |
| 3 | Quintin McCarty | USA | 21.43 | 05/24 |
| 3 | Chris GUILIANO | USA | 21.43 | 03/07 |
| 5 | Andrej BARNA | SRB | 21.48 | 05/23 |
WOMEN’S 200 BACK – FINAL
- World Record – 2:03.14, Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
- Asian Record – 2:06.46, Zhao Jing (CHN), 2010
- CHN Record – 2:06.46, Zhao Jing (CHN), 2010
GOLD – Peng Xuwei, 2:07.74
SILVER – Liu Yaxin, 2:08.50
BRONZE – Yang Ruoxi, 2:08.78
22-year-old Peng Xuwei got to the wall first to take gold in this women’s 200m backstroke final, notching a podium-topping effort of 2:07.74.
That hacked about two seconds off the 2:09.75 logged last night, although she’s been as quick as 2:06.54 in her career. That time from this past March rendered her China’s #2 performer of all time.
26-year-old Liu Yaxin posted 2:08.50 for the runner-up position tonight, also off her PB of 2:06.71 from the same Chinese Spring Nationals in March.
Yang Ruoxi rounded out the top three in 2:08.78 to now represent her nation’s 9th-swiftest performer in history. She is just 14 years of age and her time would have placed 6th in this year’s World Championships final.
WOMEN’S 50 BREAST – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 29.16, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2023
- Asian Record – 29.51, Tang Qianting (CHN), 2024
- CHN Record – 29.51, Tang Qianting (CHN), 2024
Top 8:
- Tang Qianting, 30.01
- Yang Chang, 30.56
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 30.84
- Song Zixin, 31.41
- Wen Huiqiao, 31.54
- Wang Yijing, 31.70
- Kong Shuya, 31.75
- Yu Jingyao, 31.90
Only three women cleared the 31-second threshold across tonight’s two 50m breaststroke semi-finals.
Tang Qianting was the fastest, claiming lane 4 for tomorrow night’s final in a mark of 30.01.
Yang Chang achieved 30.56 while Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey will also flank Tang, courtesy of her 30.84 outing. Haughey already won the women’s 200m free and 100m free events and looks in fine form to do some damage now in this race tomorrow.
Tang is seeking redemption from having been upset in last night’s 200m breaststroke. Although Tang entered as the favorite, it was 15-year-old Lyu Qinyao who touched first to earn the gold.
Both Tang and Haughey reached the 2023 Asian Games podium in this 50m sprint, with Tang earning gold in 29.96 and Haughey taking bronze in 30.36, the Hong Kong national record.
MEN’S 100 FLY – FINAL
- World Record – 49.45, Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2021
- Asian Record – 50.39, Joseph Schooling (SGP), 2016
- CHN Record – 50.96, Li Zhuhao (CHN), 2017
GOLD – Wang Changhao, 51.40
SILVER – Xu Fang, 51.46
BRONZE – Chen Juner, 52.32
Olympic relay gold medalist from Paris Wang Changhao roared to the wall first in this men’s 100m fly, registering a speedy result of 51.40.
That’s less than half a second off the reigning Chinese national record of 50.96 Li Zhuhao established in 2017.
Wang narrowly defeated Xu Fang who settled for silver only .06 behind in 51.46. Chen Juner landed on the podium, hitting 52.32 as the bronze medalist.
Wang led wire-to-wire, opening in 23.98 and closing in 27.42 compared to Xu’s splits of 24.07 and 27.39.
Xu was the top-seeded swimmer from last night after posting a new personal best of 51.38. Wang has been as fast as 51.20 in his career to represent China’s 3rd-best performer of all time.
WOMEN’S 50 FREE – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 23.61, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2023
- Asian Record – 23.97, Liu Xiang (CHN), 2021
- CHN Record – 23.97, Liu Xiang (CHN), 2021
Top 8:
- Cheng Yujie, 24.58
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 24.67
- Zhang Yufei, 24.83
- Wu Yunhan, 24.87
- Lu Yue, 24.91
- Wu Qingfeng, 24.96
- Yang Wenwen, 24.98
- Luo Youyang, 25.05
All but one of the 8 finalists from this women’s 50m freestyle dipped beneath the 25-second barrier, led by 20-year-old Cheng Yujie.
A bronze medalist in Paris from the women’s 4x100m free relay, Cheng holds a slight advantage over Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey‘s time of 24.67 after already racing in the women’s 50m breaststroke semi-final earlier in the session.
Zhang Yufei also dove in for her second event, clocking 24.83 as the 3rd-seeded swimmer after winning the 50m fly to kick off tonight’s agenda.
Wu Yunhuan is only 13 years old and nabbed 24.87 for a 4th seed.
MEN’S 50 BACK – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 23.55, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2023
- Asian Record – 24.24, Junya Koga (JPN), 2009
CHN Record – 24.38, Xu Jiayu, 2023 & 2025
Top 8:
- Xu Jiayu, 24.36 *Chinese National Record
- Wang Zicheng, 24.73
- Wang Gukailai, 25.04
- Jiang Chenglin, 25.23
- Chen Zeyi, 25.29
- Lin Tao, 25.30
- Xing Tianyu, 25.44
- Liu Yaojie, 25.55
Wasting no time staking his claim on this men’s 50m backstroke was 30-year-old Xu Jiayu.
Coming one step closer to a backstroke sweep, Xu fired off a new national record of 24.36 to claim the top seed.
Xu’s time sliced .02 off his own previous NR of 24.38 clocked first in 2023 then again earlier this year.
Wang Zicheng was the only other sub-25-second performer and will try to challenge Xu in the medal-contending affair.
WOMEN’S 800 FREE – FINAL
- World Record – 8:04.12, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2025
- Asian Record – 8:13.31, Li Bingjie (CHN), 2023
- CHN Record – 8:13.31, Li Bingjie (CHN), 2023
GOLD – Li Bingjie, 8:19.00
SILVER – Mao Yihan, 8:27.34
BRONZE – Gao Weizhong, 8:29.94
National record holder Li Bingjie wrangled up the gold in this women’s 800m free, registering a time of 8:19.00.
That was a decisive victory, with Mao Yihan touching over 8 seconds behind in 8:27.34 and Gao Weizhong posting 8:29.94 for the bronze.
Of note, Yang Ruoxin, just 14 years of age, put up 8:33.07 to finish in 5th place.
Based on my shoddy Chinese, I think Yu Zidi qualified first into finals with a 4:42.91?
Yes
Sorry to hijack post but Aus Swimming Awards happened last night.
Olympic program swimmer of the year – Kaylee McKeown
Short Course Swimmer of the Year – Lani Pallister (includes performances at 2024 SCM Worlds)
Olympic program coach of the year – Michael Sage
I’m a little surprised by Sage! He coached Kaylee (although only for a couple months before worlds) and Alex Perkins who both did well at worlds. But Boxall coached MOC, Pallister, Kai Taylor, Jamie Perkins, Jenna Forrester who all won individual medals or relay gold (or both)
I’d say Kaylee’s accomplishments (in terms of events won) surpass Mollie and Pallister, and you could argue that Kaylee won more, against equally tough competition to the other two, if not more. Perkins is easily the most improved this year.
I also ask this with no knowledge, but would it also be more difficult to coach different strokes? Wouldn’t it be relatively easier to just be the freestyle specialist? lol I don’t know if that works
In the past, people criticized the Chinese for peaking at nationals. Now we criticize Pan for not swimming fast enough at nationals?
Pan didn’t swim fast enough all year.
Needs more drugs
Nothing interesting
Xu Jiayu still being China’s number one man is something I’m confident will happen even after GTA 6 is released
At this point it feels like Xu Jiayu will be 50 and still winning individual events at national competitions
Has Yu Zidi swam the 400m IM?
She signed up，the competition is tomorrow.
Wasn’t everyone saying this was the most important meet for China? Outside of Zu Yidi and grandpa Xu Jiayu (love to see him still throwing down PBs what a beast) this meet has been cheeks.
Zhang Zhanshuo?