Sun Yang Wins 800 Free, Leads 100 Free Semis on Day 4 of Chinese Nats

2017 CHINESE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Olympic gold medalist Sun Yang pulled off a double on day 4 of the 2017 Chinese National Championships. Sun picked up his 3rd gold of the meet in the 800 free, posting a 7:48.33 to win by over 4 seconds ahead of Qiu Ziao (7:52.59). That’s the 3rd fastest time in the world  this year behind the Italian distance duo of Gabriele Detti (7:41.64) and Gregorio Paltrinieri (7:47.27).

In addition to his 800 free performance, Sun also led the semifinals of the 100 free. His 49.13 was good enough to clip Lin Yongqin‘s 49.15 for top seed heading into the final. Rounding out the top 3 seeds was Yu Hexin in 49.42.

Breaststroker Yan Zibei claimed his 2nd gold of the meeet, taking down a Chinese National Record in the process. After notching the 50 breast record with his 27.36 in prelims, he clipped it down to a 27.34 in the final. Zibei is now 2-for-2 in the breaststroke races at these championships, having won the 100 breast earlier in the meet.

A close race in the women’s 200 free saw all 3 medalists clock in with 1:56.7s. Getting her hand to the wall 1st was Ai Yanhan in 1:56.72, just a nail ahead of Li Bingjie (1:56.74). Shen Duo, who represented China in this race at the 2016 Olympics, was narrowly behind for 3rd in 1:56.79.

DAY 3 MEDALISTS

DAY 3 SEMIFINALS TOP 3

  • Men 100 Free Semis- Sun Yang 49.13, Lin Yongqin 49.15, Yu Hexin 49.42
  • Women 50 Back Semis- Fu Yuanhui 27.73, Liu Xiang 27.85, Chen Jie 27.89
  • Women 200 Fly Semis- Li Shuang 2:09.14, Zhou Yilin 2:09.43, Zhu Jiaming 2:10.36
  • Men 200 IM Semis- Wang Shun 1:58.95, Qin Haiyang 2:00.37, Mao Feilian 2:01.38

In This Story

10
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

10 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Hill
7 years ago

Sun yang will never do the 1500 again

Murica
7 years ago

Are we gonna do 50s stroke at US Nats?

Murica
Reply to  Murica
7 years ago

I say that after being surprised at 3 27s for chinese girls. Wondering if we have that depth in that event. I’d be surprised if there werent any surprises over here

Editor
7 years ago

On Sun Yang – Although 49.13 by itself isn’t that impressive at a national championships, this dude’s range has always been downright scary!

NCSwim
Reply to  Retta Race
7 years ago

Can’t get that excited about a guy with such a well-documented need for “angina meds”…

mike
Reply to  NCSwim
7 years ago

Olympic champions Rebecca Soni and Dana Vollmer, both Americans, are among others whose sporting tale includes treatment for heart conditions. Vollmer has served as an ambassador and spokesperson in American Heart Association campaigns

mike
Reply to  NCSwim
7 years ago

Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers was forced to withdrawal in the 100 metres freestyle at short-course nationals in Brisbane late last year after suffering a sudden attack of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

G.I.N.A
Reply to  NCSwim
7 years ago

When American swimmers drown it is often found they did in fact have a heart condition .

I am not surprised he was on meds . When I first saw him he was like 15 & I thought – whoah the Chinese are going to give him a heart attack workload . Luckily he did most of his work based on Grants proven regimen & not with the locals.

As other posters suggest , rather than condemn , lets think about the mega stresses a swimming program can put on a heart . Perhaps all elite swimmers should be entitled to cardiac health tests .

Chris Plack
Reply to  NCSwim
6 years ago

well thank God he was on heart medication. do you even know why he was on heart meds and why many professional swimmers have heart conditions or realize they do after an attack.

bobo gigi
Reply to  Retta Race
7 years ago

Loretta, it was just the semifinals for the 100 free.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

Read More »