2017 Chinese National Championships
- Monday, April 10 – Wednesday, April 19, 2017
- Qingdao, China
Li Bingjie went 4:02.52 in the 400 free to lead the world ranks by a good three and a half seconds, while Sun Yang also hit a world-leading time on day 1 of Chinese Nationals.
Li blew out the field with a massive early-season swim. Her 4:02.52 won by more than three seconds and displaces Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas as the top time in the world for the 2016-2017 season. The latest young Chinese swimmer to blow up in domestic competition, Li could now find herself in the hunt for a World Championships medal if she can stay at this level or improve by August. Li competed at Junior Pan Pacs last summer and won the 400 free there. But her time this week is exactly five seconds faster than her winning time from last August (4:07.52).
2016-2017 LCM WOMEN 400 FREE
LEDECKY
3.58.34
| 2 | Leah SMITH | USA | 4.01.54 | 07/23 |
| 3 | Bingjie LI | CHN | 4.02.52 | 04/10 |
| 4 | Sarah KOHLER | GER | 4.03.96 | 08/26 |
| 5 | Ariarne TITMUS | AUS | 4.04.26 | 07/23 |
Sun, meanwhile, also jumped into the world lead in the 400 with his winning time. The 2012 Olympic champ and 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the event went 3:42.16, blowing out the field by six seconds and taking the top world ranks spot from Italy’s Gabriele Detti. Sun’s time is just a half-second off what he went in taking silver last summer in Rio.
2016-2017 LCM MEN 400 Free
YANG
3.41.38
| 2 | Gabriele DETTI | ITA | 3.43.36 | 04/04 |
| 3 | Mack HORTON | AUS | 3.43.85 | 07/23 |
| 4 | Felix AUBOCK | AUT | 3.44.19 | 07/23 |
| 5 | Tae Hwan PARK | KOR | 3.44.38 | 05/05 |
The other massive swim came in the men’s 100 breast semifinal, where Yan Ziben broke a national record with a 58.92. That displaces the national record of 59.55 set by Li Xiang last summer in Rio. And on a continental scale, the 21-year-old Yan’s time is just .02 off of a pretty hallowed Asian record: 58.90 set by the legendary Kosuke Kitajima of Japan back in 2012. Yan now sits #2 worldwide and only a tenth behind world record-holder Adam Peaty of Great Britain. Yan will have a chance to lower that record in tomorrow’s final, where he’s up against Li (1:00.19 in semis) and former junior world record-holder Wang Lizhuo (1:00.04 in semis).
2016-2017 LCM MEN 100 BREAST
PEATY
57.47
| 2 | Kevin CORDES | USA | 58.64 | 07/23 |
| 3 | Zibei YAN | CHN | 58.92 | 04/10 |
| 4 | Nicolo MARTINENGHI | ITA | 59.01*WJR | 08/23 |
| 5 | Kirill PRIGODA | RUS | 59.05 | 07/24 |
Other notable semifinals:
- Lu Ying qualified first out of semifinals of the women’s 100 fly at 58.16, but the field is very tight behind her with Zhang Yufei going 58.28 and Zhou Yilin 58.56.
- Li Zhuhao is the top qualifier out of semis in the men’s 50 fly at 23.53.
- Wang Xinya leads the women’s 200 IM in 2:13.05, with junior world record-holder Zhou Min second in 2:13.47.
I hope Li Bingjie will be the first Chinese female prodigy freestyler who break the pattern.
In the past decade they had dozens of 13,14,15 yo girls going 4:04-4:06 and 8:20-8:25 only to inexplicably stop progressing.
It’s called puberty, which slows down most girls (some unfortunately never overcome) but makes boys stronger and faster.
Because at some point training 16,000 meters everyday wears a body down…China: quantity > quality
Totally agreed
Interestingly, Chinese men have never medaled in 4×100 Medley, at Olympics and World Championships.
Budapest may be the first time they do it. Without Phelps in fly, USA will be vulnerable, but either GBR and AUS may even be weaker than last year to take that advantage. I know we have faith on Peaty, but I will be gobsmacked if he goes even faster or repeat Rio’s split.
They can’t medal without Ning in top form. Without Ning, free could be their weakest link.
Wow, Chinese swimming is not fooling around, loads of fast times. Also, after 2015 and 2016, is sun done with with the 1500, he seems to have switched his focus to the 200/400 double.
He is focused on 200 and 400, but still swimming 1500.
That is a ridiculous time to put up at this time.
Whoa, that breaststroker.
Crazy fast times. As usual with Chinese on their home soil. Every year there are surprising things. And hopefully everybody is clean.
But I’m not shocked with Li Bingjie’s performance. Once again if you shine at junior pan pacs you have serious chances of shining later at the senior level. She won the 200 free, the 400 free and the 800 free at that meet last summer. I remember watching her swim very fast at 13 at Chartres world cup in 2015. Maybe she’s the next girl under 4 minutes. But there’s still a long way to go.
The Chinese men’s medley relay looks stronger and stronger with top swimmers on back (Xu Jiayu), breast (Yan Ziben), fly… Read more »
Speaking of Ning Zetao, does anyone know his status? He is off the Chinese national team; but why isn’t he swimming at this meet? Can’t imagine China wouldn’t allow him to defend his title at the Worlds.
He scratched this meet himself. It is said that he will return to the pool this June.
Sun yang number 1!
Sarah Sjostrom has beaten Cate Campbell’s record at 50 free.