Qin Haiyang

Qin Haiyang is a World Record breaststroker who represents China internationally. He first rose to prominence with a series of 200 breast world junior records, only later turning more to the 100 breast where he become the 3rd man ever under 58 seconds LCM. At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, he cemented himself as the breaststroke king, becoming the first man to sweep the 50-100-200 of any stroke.

International Competition

2017 Chinese Nationals/World Championships

At the Chinese nationals in April, Qin broke 2 world junior records in the 200 breast (2:08.71) and 200 IM (1:57.54). A few months later in Budapest, Qin swam both events, advancing to semi finals in the 200 breast but 15th overall. In the 200 IM, he advanced to finals, where he placed 6th overall in yet another WJR (1:57.04).

2017 National Games of China

Competing in Tianjin at the 13th Annual National Games of China, Qin lowered his own world junior record in the 200 breast by over a second, touching the wall at 2:07.35.

2018 Asian Games

In Jakarta, Qin earned double individual bronze in both the 200 breast (2:08.07) and the 200 IM (1:57.09). He earned a gold medal by swimming in the prelims of the 4×100 medley relay, which went on to set an Asian record and barely edge Japan for 1st place in finals. Qin also swam the 100 breast where he placed 5th (1:00.24).

2018 Short Course World Championships

In his home country of China, Qin earned a silver medal in the 200 breaststroke, setting a new Asian record (2:01.15) in the process.

2023 Chinese Nationals

Competing on day two of the 2023 Chinese Nationals, 23-year-old Qin ripped a time of 57.93 to get it done for gold. He opened in 27.04 and closed in 30.89 to score a monster new personal best. Qin put up a time of 58.66 at the Chinese Spring Championships just last March. Qin’s result tonight hacked well over half a second off that to now join Great Britain’s Adam Peaty and the Netherlands’ Arno Kamminga as the only men to ever get under 58 seconds in the 100m breast event.

2023 World Championships (Fukuoka, Japan)

As the top seed in the 100 breast, Qin crushed a 58.26 to lead the prelims. In semis, he blew away the field by about a second with a new PB of 57.82. It keeps him as the #3 performer all time and breaks his Asian standard. Notably, he was out .27 slower than his old best.  

Qin did not disappoint in the final. Leading from wire to wire, Qui beat the triple-tied silver medalists Nicolo Martinenghi, Arno Kamminga, and Nic Fink by 1.03 seconds. His 57.69 moved him past Kamminga for the #2 slot on the all-time performer list. Post-race, laying forth his goals, Qin said “That is a pretty good time. That is my best time. But I can do better. I will catch up to the world record.”

In the 50 breast, Qin was pedaled to the medal. He posted a swift 26.34 in prelims to lead the field and crush his PB as well as the Asian Record. In the semifinals of the 50 breast, he set another Asian record, lowering the 26.34 mark that he set in prelims to 26.20, the #7 performance of all-time which makes Qin the #2 performer behind Peaty. He was just a bit off with a 26.29 in the finals but it got the job done and netted another gold. In the same session, Qin took on relay duties in the mixed 400 medley relay. He split a superb 57.31 as he combined with his teammates for gold. 

With a dominant swim, Qin broke the men’s 200 breast world record in a time of 2:05.48, wiping out Zac Stubblety-Cook‘s mark of 2:05.95 from 2022. Qin also handed Stubblety-Cook, who was the defending world and Olympic champion, his first finals loss in the 200 breast since July 2019. He is the first swimmer to sweep the 50, 100, and 200 in any stroke at Worlds. 

With Qin being a sprinter, he took his race out considerably faster than Stubblety-Cook at Worlds, and was over a second ahead of him for the majority of his race. Stubblety-Cook had a faster closing split than Qin both at Worlds and when he swam his world record, but the gap was just too much to overcome between the two.

Splits Comparison:

On the 400 Medley relay, Qin split an otherworldly 57.43 to help China to silver in a new asian record of 3:29.00. He was also the 2nd most decorated swimmer of the meet and most decorated male with 4 golds and a silver.