Zhang Yufei Fires Off 55.62 100 Fly Asian Record, #2 All-Time Performer

2020 CHINESE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

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

Zhang Yufei already nailed one Chinese national record here at these Chinese Swimming Championships, but the 22-year-old had more in store during today’s prelims.

Taking on the women’s 100m fly, Zhang busted out a lifetime best of 55.62. That result crushes the previous Chinese national record of 56.07 that Liu Zige put on the books way back in 2009.

In fact, her outing here ranks Zhang as the 2nd fastest time performer all-time worldwide, sitting only .14 away from Sarah Sjostrom‘s current World Record of 55.48 set at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Entering this meet Zhang’s official career-quickest was represented by the 57.29 she posted at the 2017 FINA World Aquatic Championships. That time was in the earlier rounds, with Zhang ultimately taking 8th place in the event with a final time of 57.51.

Zhang already hit a time trial of 56.47 in July of this year.

At last year’s World Championships, Zhang missed the final, settling for a 13th place finish with a time of 57.93.

In between those World Championships was the 2018 Asian Games, where Zhang snagged silver in 57.40 behind winner Rikako Ikee’s 56.30 stunner.

Look for race video shortly.

Earlier at this competition, Zhang became China’s first-ever female to dip under the 53-second threshold in the 100m free. She produced a time of 52.90 for a new Chinese national record.

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DEAN IS GOD
3 years ago

WOAAAAAAAAH WOW 55.62

Konner Scott
3 years ago

Anyone else wondering about the safety of Murphy’s record?

Admin
Reply to  Konner Scott
3 years ago

If both Xu and Murphy show up full guns blazing at their 2021 best in Tokyo, it’s going to take a World Record to win gold.

But, that’s not what happened at Worlds last year.

How’s THAT for a non-answer?

swim4fun
3 years ago

Race video: http://www.new-sports.cn/zhibo/202009/t20200929_85794.html

Women’s 100 fly heat 4 @ 1:21:30 Splits: 25.76/29.86
Men’s 100 back heat 4 @1:34:10. Xu Jiayu 52.37–25.27/27.10

Virtus
Reply to  swim4fun
3 years ago

Almost looked like she was disappointed she didn’t break the world record lol.

Dan
Reply to  swim4fun
3 years ago

Great swim and there are several things she can do better and go faster. I like that she had Caeleb Dressel like finish (more aggressive last 25-30m).

Her start and turns can get much better (also hope someone will post under water video of her race to see the stroke under water).

Start to think that you might have to be 55 at the Olympics to earn a medal, but not sure if anyone is ready for swim a 54 for gold yet, on the other hand not sure if anyone expected a 54 second world record in the men’s 100m back at the 1988 Olympics either (I am to young to remember what people were speculating about going in… Read more »

Corn Pop
3 years ago

That team was fat & sluggish in Gwangju so they got sent t o military training for conditioning. This was already on SwSw .

Teamwiess
3 years ago

Does she get a finals swim???? When are finals? The fast swims have all seemed to be in prelims even for those who passed the fitness tests.

CraigH
3 years ago

But can she run a 6 minute mile?

The unoriginal Tim
Reply to  CraigH
3 years ago

Obviously – she made it into the final 🙂

Hell of a swim btw.

Actually I can’t tell if this was a final or not.

Last edited 3 years ago by The unoriginal Tim
Aquajosh
3 years ago

She was already a 2:06 200 flyer back when she was going 57-mid in the 100. And now she’s a 55-mid 100 flyer. Is she about to go a 2:02 and put the 200 fly way out of reach for anyone else? Is she about to nip at Liu Zige’s impossible world record? I’m officially scared.

M D E
Reply to  Aquajosh
3 years ago

Definitely possible, but you only have to look at the current mens 200 fly WR holder to see how improving times in one event aren’t necessarily indicative of improvement in the other.

Last edited 3 years ago by M D E
leisurely1:29
Reply to  M D E
3 years ago

Before Milak, the event really hadn’t improved whatsoever since the GOAT retired… maybe in the case of WR’s, it is about that one standout performer (i.e. Zige) rather than the event as a whole.

DMacNCheez
3 years ago

Just curious, but I’m wondering about the safety of Murphy’s record?

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just 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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