Zhang Yufei Becomes China’s First Woman 100 Freestyler Under 53 Seconds

2020 CHINESE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • September 26th – October 2nd
  • Qingdao, China
  • LCM (50m)
  • Results via Asian Media

Zhang Yufei joined the record-breaking party at this year’s Chinese Swimming Championships, as the 22-year-old became the nation’s first-ever woman 100m freestyler under 53 seconds.

Hitting a time in the 100m free heats of 52.90, Zhang’s new lifetime best hacked .23 off of the previous Chinese national record of 53.13 Pang Jiaying put on the books in 2009.

Entering this meet, Zhang’s personal best rested at the 54.09 she produced 3 years ago at this same meet. She has been a prolific butterflier on the world racing circuit in the past few years, taking the 200m fly gold and 100m fly silver at the 2018 Asian Games. She also raced in the 100m and 200m fly events in Gwangju at last year’s World Championships, placing 13th and 26th, respectively.

Zhang’s most recent performance in the 100m free sits at the 55.16 she registered at these Chinese Championships in 2018.

Her 52.90 groundbreaking swim here now checks Zhang in as the world’s 17th fastest performer all-time. Splits for her swim, which weren’t available originally at the time of publishing, include 25.22/27.68

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Pacific Whirl
4 years ago

It is Zhang, not Wang recognized as the world’s 17th fastest performer of all time.

Aquajosh
4 years ago

Let’s see, she goes 56.4 and 2:06 in the fly events, and now 52.9 in the 100 free. If she’s swimming the 200 free at this meet, we could be seeing something in the 1:54s.

swimfast
Reply to  Aquajosh
4 years ago

maybe even faster. a 2:06/52.9 is indeed an interesting combo, and lethal for the 200 free. i think a chinese woman is going to break pelligrini’s WR in the near future

swimfast
Reply to  swimfast
4 years ago

ie, the chinese women seem to have this race more down-pat as far as holding technique/pacing. they just are truly more pure-200 freestylers

carlo
Reply to  swimfast
4 years ago

The chinese women dont really have a strong tradition in the 200 free. They do have a strong tradition in the 200 fly.

Shen duo is probably the first Chinese swimmer that was seen as a rising star in chinese women,s 200 free but she hasn’t really reached her potential.

swimfast
Reply to  carlo
4 years ago

ok i know. but, some girl from china popped a 1:54 high in earlier this year at a minor meet (i know, people think “chinese woman goes fast at minor meet..sketchy) and i may be crazy, but didn’t they go fast too in the *women’s 200 free* during a covid-swim? not gonna go dig up the results…but, just sayin, the chinese women have looked good in the 200 free. maybe they haven’t had the chutzpah in the past, but they’ve been looking good, lately. jeez.

Dan
Reply to  carlo
4 years ago

Think the Chinese women held the world record in the 800 Free Relay for a while.

KEV
Reply to  KEV
4 years ago

Splits: 25.22/27.68

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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