Yang Junxuan

View Current photo via Courtesy of Jack Spitser

Yang Junxuan is a competitive swimmer who represents China internationally. She is a 2021 Olympian and Olympic champion as well as a world and Asian champion.

International Career

2018 Summer Youth Olympics (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Yang had a breakout meet at the Summer Youth Olmypics, earning gold as a part of China’s 400 free and mixed medley relays. She also won individual silver in the 100 free (54.43) and bronze in the 50 (25.47) and 200 (1:58.05) freestyles.

2018 Asian Games

Yang kept her momentum rolling into her first Asian Games, where she helped China to gold in the 800 free relay as well as silver in the 400 free relay. She also earned individual silvers in the 100 free (54.17) and 200 free (1:57.48).

2018 World Short Course Championships (Hangzhou, China)

In her home world championships, Yang picked up a hat trick of medals with China’s relays, earning gold in the 800 free relay, silver in the 400 medley relay, and bronze in the 400 free relay.

2020 Olympic Games

In Tokyo, Yang started things off in the 200 free. In the final, she ended up placing 4th (1:55.01), just outside of medaling but swimming a personal best. In the 100 free, she went a best time in the prelims (53.02), but scratched the semifinal to save herself for China’s 4×200 free relay, a gamble that paid off.

In the final of the relay, Yang led off in a huge personal best of 1:54.37, putting China in a lead that they maintained through to a win, leading 3 teams who were all under the world record. China earned gold with their WR setting time of 7:40.33.

2022 World Championships

Yang started her meet in the 400 free relay, splitting 52.7 for China on the 3rd leg to help them to a 4th place finish. Individually, Yang had the 200 free up next, moving through prelims and semis easily. In the final, Yang swam a strong race, going out hard and holding on to win her first world title, touching for the win in 1:54.92.

2023 World Aquatics Championships (Fukuoka, Japan)

While a lot of the Chinese team had a fantastic meet, Yang was far more subdued in her performance. She was solid on a relay, helping China break the Asian record and take bronze in the 400 free relay with a 53.53 split. In the 100 individually, Yang eeked through prelims with a 54.45 and qualified for the final 8th with a 53.67. She remained 8th in the final with a 54.09.

International Medals

Place Event Year Meet
Gold 800 Freestyle Relay 2020 Olympic Games
Gold 200 Free 2022 World Championships
Gold 800 Freestyle Relay 2018 Short Course World Championships
Bronze 400 Freestyle Relay 2023 World Championships
Silver 400 Medley Relay 2018 Short Course World Championships
Bronze 400 Freestyle Relay 2018 Short Course World Championships

Best Times

Course Event Time Date Meet
lcm 50 Free 25.43 10/11/18 Youth Olympic Games
Buenos Aires, Argentina
lcm 100 Free 53.02 07/28/21 2020 Olympic Games
Tokyo, Japan
lcm 200 Free 1:54.37 07/29/21 2020 Olympic Games
Tokyo, Japan
scm 50 Free 24.88 11/02/18 FINA World Cup No. 5 - 2018
Beijing, China
scm 100 Free 53.40 11/04/18 FINA World Cup No. 5 - 2018
Beijing, China
scm 200 Free 1:53.41 11/03/18 FINA World Cup No. 5 - 2018
Beijing, China
courtesy of Fabio Cetti courtesy of Fabio Cetti 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships Budapest Budapest, Duna Arena 06/19/22 Photo Fabio Cetti 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships Budapest Budapest, Duna Arena 06/19/22 Photo Fabio Cetti China Stock (photo: Jack Spitser) Team China (photo: Jack Spitser) Team China (photo: Jack Spitser)