The Chinese Swimming Association announced its 2024 domestic calendar on Tuesday, with the national selection event for the 2024 Olympic Games shifting up to April.
China has traditionally held its National Championships in May, with the meet used for selection for the major international event of the summer. This timing has led them to great success of late, particularly this past year when China managed to rank third on the medal table at the 2023 World Championships with five gold and 16 total medals.
Nonetheless, next year’s Olympic Trials have been shifted up by one month, though it’s worth noting specific dates for the event have not been released, with the announcement only including that the event will span 6-8 days.
The two nations that ranked 1-2 in the medal table in Fukuoka, Australia and the United States, both run their Olympic Trials meets much later, usually in June, and another top nation, Canada, has also made moves to shift back their selection meets for the upcoming quad.
Perhaps the bigger takeaway from the change in timing for the Chinese Trials is the impact it will have on Sun Yang, the six-time Olympic medalist who is currently serving a four-year suspension that is set to expire in May 2024.
If the competition were to be held in May, it’s not clear if Sun would be eligible to race (depending on the specific timing), but since it’s now in April, he won’t be in the mix.
Of course, there’s always a possibility that the Chinese Federation could add Sun as a discretionary selection to the team, provided he hits a qualifying time prior to the cut-off, which is June 23.
Chinese 2024 Competition Calendar
- 2024 National Spring Swimming Championships – February (4 days)
- 2024 National Swimming Championships (Olympic Trials) – April (6-8 days)
- 2024 National Summer Swimming Championships – July (4 days)
- 2024 National Youth Swimming Championships – September (4 days)
- 2024 National Short Course Championships – October (6 days)
In June, Sun said that he is still training every day with the Paris 2024 Games on his mind.
Initially dealt an eight-year ban, Sun’s suspension was reduced to four years and three months in June 2021. The initial suspension came after he destroyed samples following an out-of-competition doping test, arguing that those who were testing him were improperly certified.
The 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s 400 and 1500 free, and the 2016 champion in the 200 free, Sun last competed internationally at the FINA Champions Series in Beijing in January 2020.
He will turn 32 on December 1.
Why is no one discussing the chance that China did this on purpose? Surely they were aware of his ban end date and know it’s a pain in the butt for him to need to get selection QT’s somewhere else. Do they not want him swimming?
I don’t know, I know Sun is a big deal in China and is their most-accomplished swimmer ever, but he’s also 34 years old and the likelihood of him winning medals is slim. I don’t think I’d assume they ever did anything just to block him out, I think that after Worlds last year, he’s far from the focus of their planning.
The difference btwn Sun Yang supporters vs Sun Yang haters is like Pro-Palestinian vs Anti-Palestinian here in Western media and social forums.
I hope if Sun Yang is ever entered in the drug testing protocols that he doesn’t smash up his test sample to little pieces with a hammer again.
I don’t expect this to be popular but honestly at this point just end the ban at the beginning of the year and see where he’s at. I’m only saying this because if Shayna Jack is currently swimming then WADA should just end it and make things interesting for next year. Wouldn’t be shocked if he’s secretly training with the National team coach in secret leading up to next year.
He ain’t beating Luka anyway.
Who?
The cheater won’t be missed
If he isn’t banned then he’s allowed to swim. That’s that I guess.
In saying that, he’s going to need to be near his peak to do anything relevant, and a 33 year old distance swimmer peaking is, in itself, highly suspicious.
He’s the world record holder in the 1500 but he hasn’t swum a time that would have medalled in Fukuoka since 2013.
He hasn’t swum a time that would have medalled in the 800 in Fukuoka since 2011.
His 400 times from 2016/17 would still be good for bronze but his only chance to win would be to match his 2012 times.
If Sun Yang jumps in the pool and somehow matches his times from 12 years prior… Read more »
He’s was out of the 1500m conversation before he even got banned. Honestly while he’s an easy to root against villain the fact is with the likes of Hafnaoui and Short in the 400m and Popovici, Hwang, Pan, and the Brits in the 200m I don’t think we need to worry that much regardless
The biggest thing may be what he adds to the Chinese 4×2 – If he returns able to split 1.45.0, that’s a relay capable going under 7 minutes on a going day
I think with Sun it’s his arrogance people don’t like, the newer Chinese stars seem more human
Qin seems like a cool dude
Qin Haiyang and Zhang Yufei are super cool
And they’re super cool for being supporters of Sun Yang too.