Two Asian Records Highlight Loaded 2nd Day of Chinese Nationals

2026 CHINESE NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, June 16 – Sunday, June 21, 2026
• Hangzhou, China
• LCM (50 meters)
• Live Results
• Day 1 Recap

A pair of Asian Records fell to highlight the 2nd day of racing in Hangzhou, among them were Yu Yiting jumping her fellow countrywoman Yu Zidi to claim the top time in the world this season in the 200 IM, and Xu Jiayu becoming the first Asian man ever to crack 26 seconds in the 50 backstroke.

Yiting powered to a new Asian record in the 200 IM, downing 13-year-old sensation Zidi’s former record time of 2:07.41, which also previously stood as the fastest in the world this season until Yiting’s performance here.

She becomes the first Asian woman ever to swim a sub-2:07 200 IM, moving her up to the #6 performer ever in the event.

• Read more about Yu Yiting’s 200 IM Asian Record here.

The other top performance of the day came in the men’s 50 backstroke, as Xu Jiayu also broke a time barrier; this time in the men’s 50 back, where he became the first Asian man to break 24 seconds in the event, moving him up to the 2nd fastest time in the World this season in 23.92, only trailing Kliment Kolesnikov in 23.86.

That swim also moved him up to a tie for 3rd with Justin Ress in the all-time performers rankings.

• Read more about Xu Jiayu’s 50 Back Asian Record here.

Race Videos courtesy of The Light of Sports on YouTube

As for the rest of day 2, the women’s 50 back was won by Wan Letian in 27.68, touching less than two tenths ahead of Wang Xueer in 27.84. That time for Letian was still well off her career best of 27.09 from the 2025 China Spring National Championships. Each of the top six swimmers in the 50 back touched under 28 seconds.

The men’s 50 freestyle featured the 100 free world record holder, Pan Zhanle. Though it would not be the Olympic Gold medalist taking the win here, it was Wang Changhao taking the top spot on the podium in 22.06. Zhanle would finish 3rd in the event in 22.28, 14 hundredths behind Chen Hao in 22.14.

Li Jiaping took the narrow win in the 200 free in 1:56.29, touching a tenth of a second ahead of Liu Yaxin in 1:56.39. Each of the top five swimmers in the women’s 200 free final managed to swim under 1:57.

The men’s 100 breast was dominated by Dong Zhihao, storming to the win in 58.57, which makes him the 2nd-fastest performer in the world this season. This swim also marks a massive time drop from his former best of 59.06 at this meet last season.

Zhihao now only trails American Van Mathias in the world rankings for this season.

Just behind Zhihao was Qin Haiyang, who had been as fast as 58.98 this season, clocking 59.39 for silver here. Rounding out the top three was Zheng Yinghao in 59.65.