Paris 2024, Asia Recap Day 9: Zhang Yufei Finishes With 6 Medals For China

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Swimming action at the 2024 Olympic Games concluded tonight from Paris but not before Chinese ace Zhang Yufei added two more medals to her already-impressive treasure chest.

Racing in the final of the women’s 50m free, 26-year-old Zhang fired off a time of 24.20 to capture the bronze behind winner Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden (23.71) and runner-up Meg Harris of Australia (23.97).

Zhang’s time was just off her lifetime best of 24.15, a time put up at the 2023 World Championships.

Zhang also helped her nation earn 3rd place in the women’s 4x100m medley relay to cap off the evening.

Zhang’s Paris medal total wound up at an impressive 6 medals, 2 more than she reaped 3 years ago in Tokyo, although she missed out on gold this time around. This means Zhang helped account for half of China’s entire medal haul in Paris.

Zhang Yufei‘s 2020 Olympic Games Results

  • GOLD – 200m fly
  • GOLD – 4x200m free relay
  • SILVER – 100m fly
  • SILVER – mixed medley relay

Zhang Yufei‘s 2024 Olympic Games Results

  • SILVER – mixed medley relay
  • BRONZE – 50m free
  • BRONZE – 100m fly
  • BRONZE – 200m fly
  • BRONZE – 4x100m free relay
  • BRONZE – 4x100m medley relay

Quick Hits

  • Zhang wasn’t the only Chinese swimmer in the women’s 50m free final as teammate Wu Qingfeng placed 7th in 24.37.
  • China clocked a time of 3:27.46 as the men’s medley relay upset the Americans. Pan Zhanle fired off an anchor of 45.92, the fastest split in history.
  • China earned the women’s medley relay bronze in an outing of 3:53.23,

Continental & National Records Through Day 9

  • Yang Junxuan (CHN) – national record in women’s 100m free (52.48)
  • Chinese Women’s 4x100m free relay – national record & Asian record (3:30.30)
  • Gan Ching Hwee (SGP) – national record in women’s 1500m free (16:10.13); national record in 800m free (8:32.37)
  • Kayla Sanchez (PHI) – national record in women’s 100m free (53.67)
  • Pan Zhanle (CHN) – national record & Asian record & world record in 100m free (46.40)
  • Chinese Mixed medley relay – national record & Asian record (3:37.55)

Asian Swimming Medal Table Through Day 9

RANK NATION GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL
1 China 2 3 7 12
2 Japan 0 1 0 1
3 Hong Kong 0 0 2 2
4 South Korea 0 0 1 1

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blue
3 months ago

good girl, always smile

BDD
3 months ago

She says she’s hoping to continue on to LA2028!

Nick B
Reply to  BDD
3 months ago

Yes. She will probably try to.

She was ill through much of this competition. She had been running a fever, which didn’t subside until a day or two after the 200 fly. When asked if she had considered pulling out of the 200 fly, among other things, she said, “….I would rather die…..”.

Kevin
3 months ago

Wait, who was that other Chinese girl (Maggie something?) that narrowly beat Zhang in the 100 fly in Tokyo? Did she not make the team this year? Anyhow, loved seeing Zhang Yufei and her huge smile on the podium six times in Paris!

wittypanda95
Reply to  Kevin
3 months ago

Maggie MacNeill who is Canadian. She was in Paris, but finished out of the medals in the 100fly- 5th, In her other events she made the semi of the 100free but withdrew, and swam in the 4×100 free, mixed medley relay and the medley relay. No medals this time around.

I’ve always enjoyed Zhang’s excitement and pure joy whenever she medals and does well.

Swimdad
3 months ago

Interesting that Zhang, Qin, Shun couldn’t win any individual golds after coming into the olympics as favorites. Turns out winning gold ain’t that easy when you have to swim clean.
This makes me appreciate Pan’s performance even more.

Tencor
Reply to  Swimdad
3 months ago

Only Qin maybe came in as a favorite and very shakily in both events

Last edited 3 months ago by Tencor
Nep
Reply to  Tencor
3 months ago

Well technically Qin did average, just not in his individual events. We can theorize what happened and stuff, but imma just state the facts…his relay splits were pretty impressive at 57, being the fastest resplit out splitting Peaty

prettysup
Reply to  Swimdad
3 months ago

So everyone who performed worse than the last olympics were doped? That would put many swimmers in the list lol..

Swimdad
Reply to  prettysup
3 months ago

Nah, not all athletes tested positive prior to last olympics. Only 23 Chinese swimmers. None if them performed well this summer.

Aquajosh
3 months ago

She would have had seven if she was on the 800 free relay.

PVK
3 months ago

This cheater should have no medals at all

Smith
Reply to  PVK
3 months ago

You can dream on. The IOC, FINA and WADA approved all these swimmers who competed, so who are you to call them cheaters? If you don’t buy the system, why participate in the Games?

blue
Reply to  PVK
3 months ago

how poor, keyborad man

billylane
Reply to  PVK
3 months ago

Cry about it.

Nick B
3 months ago

100 fly and 200 fly medals are completely logical, but a medal in a 50 free as well is something completely different. Extremely impressive range.

I don’t believe we’ve ever witnessed a swimmer medaling in the 200 fly and 50 free in the world championships or Olympics.

Can the Swimswam data gurus verify this?

Troyy
Reply to  Nick B
3 months ago

Might’ve done it last year except she dropped the 200 fly to focus on winning mixed medley gold.

wusalu32
Reply to  Nick B
3 months ago

She is the second best 50 fly swimmer in history. So it is not that surprising she would be good in 50 free.

Nick B
Reply to  wusalu32
3 months ago

Yes. That’s not a surprise, however, outside of Zhang, imagine the top 8 50 free sprinters in these Olympics, male or female, medaling in the 200 fly.

I believe the answer you’ll find is that none of them actually swim the 200 fly. That’s the transition which I believe is unprecedented.

The 200 fly is more akin to a difficult, pain-oriented event, requiring careful strategy and tactics like the 400 IM than the 50 freestyle.

Last edited 3 months ago by Nick B
AQWAMN
Reply to  Nick B
3 months ago

never happened

MaryHall
Reply to  Nick B
3 months ago

not world/Olympic level, but Martina Moravcova won European medals in 200 fly and 50 free

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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