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
- Meet Central
- Results
- Livestream
We’ve entered day two of the 2025 Chinese National Games, where the swimming action is taking place in Shenzhen, China.
Yesterday we saw a new World Junior Record established by Zhang Zhanshuo in the men’s 400m free and we’re primed to see some high-caliber performances during this evening’s medal-contending races.
World record holder Qin Hiaiyang leads the men’s 100m breaststroke final, although former national record holder Yan Zibei is hot on his trail.
Six-time Olympic medalist from Paris, Zhang Yufei, will be the one to beat in the women’s 100m butterfly contest, while Wang Changhao, Xu Fang and Zhang Qiye are closely seeded for the men’s 50m butterfly final.
We’ll also see what 13-year-old Yu Zidi can do in the women’s 200m IM as the teen turned in a top-seeded time yesterday to hold the pole position.
On the semi-final front, the men’s 100 back and 200m free, along with the women’s 100m breast and 100m back will be on tonight’s agenda.
No woman delved under the minute barrier in the 1back heats this morning, but leaders Peng Xuwei, Lu Xingchen and Qian Xinan are separated by just .19. Peng posted 1:00.78, Lu 1:00.95 and Qian 1:00.97.
The reigning Asian record holder Xu Jiayu holds about a second lead over the men’s 1back field, having registered a top-seeded mark of 53.40.
Tang Qianting, the Chinese national record holder, was far and away ahead of the prelims field in the 100m breast with a morning swim of 1:07.03.
Then in the men’s 200m free we saw Xu Haibo capture the top seed in 1:48.15, only slightly ahead of Pan Zhanle‘s time of 1:48.36 and Sun Yang‘s effort of 1:48.70.
MEN’S 100 BREAST – FINAL
- World Record – 56.88, Adam Peaty (GBR), 2019
- Asian Record – 57.69, Qin Haiyang (CHN), 2023
- CHN Record – 57.69, Qin Haiyang (CHN), 2023
GOLD – Qin Haiyang, 58.98
SILVER – Zheng Yinghao, 59.47
BRONZE – Yan Zibei, 59.49
The first event of day two finals saw 26-year-old Qin Haiyang capture gold.
Racing in the men’s 100m breast, Qin stopped the clock at a time of 58.98, knocking .22 off his field-leading semi-final effort of 59.20 last night.
While former national record holder Yan Zibei entered tonight’s final as the #2 seed, the veteran dropped down to the bronze medal position, hitting 59.49.
Out-touching Yan by just .02 was Zheng Yinghao who sneaked into the wall in a time of 59.47 for the silver.
We’ve seen Qin go as fast as his NR of 57.69 from two years ago, and he topped the podium this year in Singapore with an impressive 58.23, so tonight’s outing was more on the subdued side for the world champion.
WOMEN’S 100 FLY – FINAL
- World Record – 54.60, Gretchen Walsh (USA), 2025
- Asian Record – 55.62, Zhang Yufei (CHN), 2020
- CHN Record – 55.62, Zhang Yufei, 2020
GOLD – Zhang Yufei, 56.88
SILVER – Wang Yichun, 57.60
BRONZE –Wang Jingzhuo, 57.94
As expected, 27-year-old Zhang Yufei led this women’s 100m butterfly final wire-to-wire, ultimately touching in 56.88 for the gold.
The six-time Olympic medalist from Paris opened in 26.24 and closed in 30.64 to defeat the field by a healthy advantage.
Wang Yichun turned in a time of 57.60 as the silver medalist while Wang Jingzhuo rounded out the podium in 57.94.
As a reminder, Zhang owns the current Asian and Chinese national records with her lifetime best of 55.62 from 2020. She just missed the podium this year in Singapore, placing 4th in 56.47.
MEN’S 100 BACK – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 2022
- Asian Record – 51.86, Xu Jiayu (CHN), 2017
- CHN Record – 51.86, Xu Jiayu, 2017
Top 8:
- Xu Jiayu, 52.70
- Jiang Chenglin, 54.21
- Wang Zicheng, 54.37
- Wang Gukailai, 54.45
- Chen Zeyi, 54.67
- Wang Shun, 54.90
- Lin Tao, 54.92
- Wang Ziming, 55.02
China’s fastest men’s 100m backstroker in history, Xu Jiayu, soared to the top seed in a head-turning time of 52.70.
Splitting 25.29/27.41, 30-year-old Xu cranked out the only time of the pack under the 54-second barrier, with Jiang Chenglin representing the next-closest competitor in 54.21.
Olympic IM champion Wang Shun lurks as the 6th seed in 54.90, but the race appears to be Xu’s to lose come tomorrow night’s final.
Xu has been as fast as 51.86 in his career, a time he put on the books in 2017 to currently remain the 6th-quickest performer ever.
He took Olympic silver in Paris last year with his outing of 52.32 and earned gold the year prior at the Asian Games (52.23)
Xu easily checks in as the world’s #1 performer on the season, dethroning Korean national record holder Lee Juho.
2025-2026 LCM Men 100 BACK
Jiayu
52.39
| 2 | Pieter COETZE | RSA | 52.40 | 04/14 |
| 3 | Oliver MORGAN | GBR | 52.41 | 04/16 |
| 4 | Kliment KOLESNIKOV | RUS | 52.51 | 06/10 |
| 5 | Apostolos CHRISTOU | GRE | 52.53 | 05/10 |
WOMEN’S 100 BREAST – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 1:04.13, Lilly King (USA), 2017
- Asian Record – 1:04.39, Tang Qianting (CHN), 2024
- CHN Record – 1:04.39, Tang Qianting, 2024
Top 8:
- Tang Qianting – 1:06.31
- Yang Chang – 1:07.20
- Lu Qinyao – 1:08.22
- Yu Jingyao – 1:08.60
- Kong Shuya – 1:08.70
- Wang Yijing – 1:08.75
- Liu Mengyeng – 1:09.09
- Ye Shiwen – 1:09.34
Olympic silver medalist Tang Qianting has set herself up for success for tomorrow night’s women’s 100m breaststroke final, securing the top slot in a time of 1:06.31.
That holds a nearly one-second advantage over her peers, with Yang Chang, the 2023 Asian Games bronze medalist, next in line at 1:07.20.
The remaining competitors are all in the 1:08 or 1:09 zone, including 2012 IM Olympic champion Ye Shiwen who claimed the 8th seed in 1:09.34.
MEN’S 50 FLY – FINAL
- World Record – 22.27, Andrii Govorov (UKR), 2018
- Asian Record – 22.93, Joseph Schooling (SGP), 2017
- CHN Record – 23.25, Wang Changhao, 2023
GOLD – Wang Changhao, 23.30
SILVER – Xu Fang, 23.45
BRONZE – Shen Jiahao, 23.58
China’s national record holder in this men’s 50m fly wasted no time making his presence known, with Wang Changhao following up his top-seeded performance last night with a gold medal-worthy one here.
Wang stopped the clock at 23.30 to shave .09 off his 23.39 semi-final outing. His faster time fell just .05 outside the Chinese standard of 23.25 he established two years ago.
Xu Fang was a hair slower than yesterday, 23.45 tonight compared to last night’s 23.41, but was still quick enough to hold on for silver.
Shen Jiahao bumped himself up from the 4th seed to take the bronze, registering 23.58 to also land on the podium.
WOMEN’S 100 BACK – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 57.13, Regan Smith (USA), 2024
- Asian Record – 58.70, Aya Terakawa (JPN), 2013
- CHN Record – 58.72, Fu Yuanhui, 2017
Top 8:
- Wan Letian – 59.71
- Lu Xingchen – 1:00.20
- Peng Xuwei – 1:00.34
- Wang Xueer – 1:00.35
- Qian Xin’an – 1:00.51
- Chen Jie – 1:00.54
- Yang Ruoxi – 1:00.91
- Wang Xinyi – 1:01.37
The women’s 100m backstroke field played their cards close to their chests tonight, as just one semi-finalist dipped beneath the minute barrier.
21-year-old Wan Letian clocked a time of 59.71 to land lane 4 for tomorrow night’s main event, while the next four competitors are tightly-packed with just .31 between them.
Wan’s lifetime best checks in at the 59.02 established at last year’s Chinese Nationals, so she’s already approaching that type of performance if she can manage to drop more time when the medals are on the line.
Olympian Wang Xueer lurks as the 4th seed, owning a personal best of 58.99 from 2023 to represent China’s 4th-swiftest women’s 100m back performer to date.
MEN’S 200 FREE – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record – 1:42.00, Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
- Asian Record – 1:43.92, Hwang Sunwoo (KOR), 2025
- CHN Record – 1:44.39, Sun Yang, 2017
Top 8:
- Zhang Zhanshuo – 1:46.89
- Fei Liwei – 1:47.46
- Ji Xinjie – 1:47.53
- Pan Zhanle – 1:47.68 & Liu Peixin – 1:47.68
- –
- Zhao Yipu – 1;47.74
- Xu Haibo – 1:47.94
- Sun Yang – 1:48.30
The reigning world record holder and Olympic champion in the 100m free, Pan Zhanle, sits 4th headed into tomorrow night’s men’s 200m free final.
He and Liu Peixin both touched in 1:47.68 to make the cut, although Zhang Zhanshuo is the one to beat, owning the sole sub-1:47 time of the field.
18-year-old Zhang ripped a new World Junior Record in the men’s 400m free on night one, so we know he’s in good form, as evidenced by his 1:46.89 semi swim.
Once-banned Olympic champion Sun Yang slid into the final, securing the 8th seed in 1:48.30.
WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINAL
- World Record – 2:05.70, Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2025
Asian Record – 2:07.57, Ye Shiwen (CHN), 2012CHN Record – 2:07.57, Ye Shiwen, 2012
GOLD – Yu Zidi, 2:07.41 *Chinese Record *Asian Record
SILVER – Yu Yiting, 2:08.30
BRONZE – Chang Mohan, 2:11.51
We just saw one of the most impressive women’s 200m IM performances of all-time tonight, as 13-year-old Yu Zidi unleashed a new Chinese record and Asian record of 2:07.41.
Young Yu beat a strong domestic field by nearly a full second, as Yu Yiting snagged the silver in 2:08.30 and Chang Mohan bagged the bronze in 2:11.51.
As for Yu, her outing this evening overtook the longstanding records of 2:07.57 Ye Shiwen put on the books as a 16-year-old en route to gold at the 2012 Olympic Games. Remarkably, Yu wasn’t even born yet when that record was set.
Look for a separate post detailing Yu’s splits and history-making swim.
Are Yu kidding me?
Postponed retirement plan for Xu Jiayu
The men’s backstroke issue has been a significant concern for us Chinese. Xu Jiayu might still be needed for the Los Angeles cycle, but it’s almost certainly out of the question for Brisbane. Whether Xu Jiayu can maintain his highly competitive form until the Los Angeles Olympics is crucial for the men’s medley relay’s chances of contending for a medal, or even gold.
Yu Zidi is here to stay. Ye Shiwen never left, and I am happy for her.
BUT Mc heater Sun “Hammer” Yang was allowed back…. I am reminded of an ancient Chinese Proverb: Why?
Served his ban
The same reason every other d-per can return after their ban: that’s the rules.
Bro they need to find a Xu Jiayu replacement
Ryan Murphy (Born 1995): Enjoying a long vacation without competitions and training, then seeing if LA is possible.
Xu Jiayu (Born 1995): Postponed retirement plan and improving techniques to catch up with youngsters…
Wtf. Everyone’s always talking about Jiayu like he’s ancient.
It’s funny cuz all it is was that Xu broke out a full Olympic cycle before Murph did but similar to Caeleb and Kyle, Murph is actually a month and a half older than Xu. It’s all really meaningless. But what’s funny are comments I’ve seen with this topic like,
Xu: “please please please just let me retire I don’t want to have to keep carrying the Chinese backstroke on my back.”
Murph: “oh imma just take a break. lol.”
Part of this is because we kinda have the depth where guys can take a break. China it’s just Xu then Wang Shun a full 1.5 seconds back and here I thought Chinese backstroke used to be okay…
Wang Shun is even one year older. The problem is not just Xu’s replacement. There is even nobody to swim the prelims of the relays for Xu. A B-standard male backstroker will surely eliminate the team in the prelim of the relay.
Idk if I’ve ever looked up Xu’s age. That threw me way off. I’m always reading comments basically calling him a grandpa, meanwhile he’s a little less than five years older than me
Summer has a huge problem
A HUGE problem
Just wait till LA28. When she has years of training with bob under her belt she is going to be even more unstoppable.
The chinese girl will not be a problem for Summer.
Nope.
Hardly
Summer McIntosh is actually not safe for LA. In at least 3/4 of her primary events. Which is wild.
Nothing is guaranteed as there are still 3 years out before 2028 and you never know when and where the next superstars will break the surface.
It seems the most safe one is the 400 free, the one she didn’t win in Paris. Wild.
Even that is not 100% due to how well Pallister is progressing. But seems to be the safest at the moment
In the womens 100 breast semifinals there’s been a 1.07.75 (third overall) from Song Zixin in the second semifinal 第十五届全国运动会信息发布系统
Think about this a 13 year old is in the top 10 all time performers. That hasn’t happened since 1992
A 4:30 will put her in top 10 400 medley
A 2:04:78 200 fly also top 10.
Both feasible
Actually I’m wrong I was thinking of Kyoko Iwasaki winning gold but she had just turned 14 so this makes it even longer since we’ve had a 13 year old in the top 10 all time performers list
Now swimswam will not put zidi in even top 20 for 26 because she did not won an individual medal but will include Grimes, Masse and steerbergen ahead of her
I actually disagree with this. I think she might be ranked as high as top 15 for 2026 too bad there is no worlds meet next year because she would almost certainly medal
Li Xuanxu was barely 13 when she went 4:38 in the 400 IM at Chinese Nationals in 2007, which would have been 2nd at the previous year’s Worlds. I believe that also would have been in the top 10 at the time. She developed as a distance freestyler and went on to win Asian Games gold in the 800 in 2010 and Worlds bronze in the 1500 in 2011, but her IM came back around and she did improve to a 4:32 and won bronze in the 400 IM at the 2012 Olympics. The scary thing is that while it took Xuanxu five years to improve those six seconds, Xidi could very well do it in one.