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Chinese swimmer Qin Haiyang competes in the men’s 200m breaststroke event at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Berlin, Germany, October 8, 2023. /CFP
Chinese swimmer Qin Haiyang competes in the men’s 200m breaststroke event at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Berlin, Germany, October 8, 2023. /CFP
Freshly adorned with the joint MVP accolade at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, dynamic Chinese duo Qin Haiyang and Zhang Yufei concluded the Swimming World Cup in Berlin with a bang.
Qin emerged the victor in Sunday’s fiercely contested men’s 200m breaststroke event. With a time of 2:07.45, he not only shattered Anton Chupkov’s previous record of 2:07.59 set in 2018, but also secured his third consecutive triumph of the tournament, thus accomplishing a remarkable breaststroke hat trick.
Rising Chinese prodigy Dong Zhihao, who currently holds the world youth record for the 200m event, also shone. In a display of sheer determination, he ultimately clinched the silver medal, clocking in at a time of 2:08.60.
“My performance has exceeded all expectations,” said Qin. “Having endured three days of relentless racing, I’m very tired. So, it comes as a pleasant surprise that I emerged victorious. I felt relieved after the win, and my focus has shifted towards the forthcoming races in Athens.”
China’s Zhang Yufei reacts after winning the women’s 100m butterfly event at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Berlin, Germany, October 8, 2023. /CFP
China’s Zhang Yufei reacts after winning the women’s 100m butterfly event at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Berlin, Germany, October 8, 2023. /CFP
Meanwhile, Zhang, having recently showcased her prowess at the Asian Games, took on the audacious challenge of surpassing the world record in the women’s 100m butterfly event.
Commencing her race with remarkable speed, the Olympic champion maintained a blistering pace, reaching the halfway mark with sensational precision. Though her momentum waned slightly during the latter half, she persevered and emerged triumphant with a commendable time of 56.74.
Later in the day, Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong, China, delivered an extraordinary performance that marked the pinnacle of the day’s swimming endeavors. Her victory in the 100m freestyle event was accompanied by a time of 52.02, solidifying her position as the fastest swimmer in 2023.
Haughey’s time on Sunday surpassed the fastest swim at the recently concluded World Championships. Her exceptional achievement also shattered the previous World Cup record of 52.34, set by the illustrious Cate Campbell in 2019.
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