China Finalizes 34-Member Swimming Roster for 2025 World Championships

The Chinese Swimming Association announced its 34-member roster for the World Championships in Singapore later this month. This will be the youngest lineup sent by the Chinese, with an average men’s age of 22.6 and an average women’s age of 20.1.

The men’s roster is highlighted by Olympic Champion Pan Zhanle. At 20 years old, Pan has positioned himself as a top contender in the sprint freestyle events. He is one of only two swimmers in history to be sub-22 in the 50 freestyle (21.92), sub-47 in the 100 freestyle (46.40 World Record), and sub-1:45 in the 200 freestyle (1:44.65). The World Record holder will be eyeing a repeat of last summer’s success in Paris later this month in Singapore.

Another key member of this roster is Qin Haiyang. The country’s top men’s breastroker has a unique achievement to his name as well, as the first swimmer ever to win gold in all three breaststroke events at a single World Championships back in 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan.

In the 200 breaststroke at those same Championships, Qin broke the World Record previously held by Zac Stubblety-Cook of Australia at 2:05.95 with his performance of 2:05.48. This World Record remains unbroken

Zhang Yufei provides international experience to the team. With 43 international medals (including 10 Olympic medals), she will compete to defend her 100 butterfly title from Fukuoka and aims for results similar to her medal total from the Paris Olympics last summer, where she won 6 medals (1 silver, 5 bronze), making her the most decorated swimmer of those Games.

At the 2025 Chinese National Swimming Championships, 12-year-old Yu Zidi would swim a 2:06.83, taking gold with a time that would have placed 4th at the Paris Olympics last summer.

Yu’s 2:10.63 in the 200 IM earned her a silver in the event, and met the World Aquatics time standard of 2:12.83, earning her a spot on the World Championships team.

Notably left off of the Worlds roster was Yang Junxuan. After not competing at the Chinese National Swimming Championships, the 100 freestyle Chinese National Record Holder and gold medalist from Tokyo as part of the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay, Yang was automatically unable to qualify for the roster, as the competition was the sole selection opportunity for athletes to qualify for the Chinese World Championships roster.

At the Paris Olympics in 2024, Yang also finished 5th in the 200 freestyle and 6th in the 100 freestyle, while winning silver as a part of the 4×100 mixed medley relay.