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China’s Yu Hexin Breaks Junior World Record in Boys’ 50 Free

China, who has been looking for an elite international male sprinter almost forever, is suddenly making significant headway in that regard. After Ning Zetao broke the National Record in the 50 free at the Chinese National Games last year with a 21.91, 18-year old Yu Hexin has now broken the Junior World Record in the same event.

Hexin swam a 22.01 at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, which broke the 22.07 that was held by Russian Evgeny Sedov as the old Junior World Record. Sedov, who intended to race this meet but was absent with an injury, was 21.98 earlier this year, but it was a few days before FINA started accepting nominations for Junior World Records.

Still, that 21.98 will be Yu’s target if he really wants to establish credibility to the 50 free record.

Regardless of whether he gets it, this swum for Yu was an impressive one, especially with little sign of it after prelims (he was a 22.7 – still very fast, but not near the record).

His challengers in finals will be Brazil’s Matheus de Santana (22.48), who is really more of a 100 freestyler anyway, and Dylan Carter (22.49) from Trinidad & Tobago. Yu and Carter are the two fastest starters in the field, and if they can get some clean water, we could see a great battle for gold in finals.

Beyond this meet, Yu has the tools, and more specifically the build, to continue in his development for the Chinese team that needs sprint freestylers to really make an impression internationally. He’s listed in the meet program at 6’3″ and 183 pounds, which is about on par with where a top American or Australian 18-year old sprinter would be size-wise.

Yu also has entries in the 50 fly, the 100 free, and three relays later in this meet.

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boknows34
10 years ago

“The only possible reason would be that youth olympic games take place in china.”

I think you found the answer.

thomaslurzfan
10 years ago

1.1.1996 as birthdate is pretty strange, but why should china give him a wrong birthdate?
Certainly not because he would then be able to break the junior world record, china never sends its best juniors to junior world championships in swimming, so why should they start now to care that much? The only possible reason would be that youth olympic games take place in china.
I think its somehow funny that theres so much confusion about the junior world records, since i dont really get the sense of only counting times that were swum since these records were introduced. (why arent they done by age instead of birthdate anyway?)

Zhen
Reply to  thomaslurzfan
10 years ago

Another reason is they just want to send some of the younger swimmers somewhere to compete before next month’s Asian Games, where a clash with Japan’s best will be eye-catching (the pan-pacs are too far away). The youth Olympics really get little publicity even in China. I think if the age is indeed wrong in his case, it perhaps shows a habitual disrespect of rules by the Chinese Federation, rather than a purposeful fraud in order to look good on the medals.

Zhen
Reply to  Zhen
10 years ago

I did find a new report after this year’s nationals, where he beat NING Zetao in the 50m, that says he is 19. The news says that Ning at 21, even though lost due to his wrist injury, still felt the pressure from the 19 year old youngster.

Vera
Reply to  thomaslurzfan
9 years ago

Unreasonable suspect for such a birthday I should say. People have nearly equal probability to have a birthday of 1.1 to 12.31. Moreover, Yu’s first name, “Hexin”, means to celebrate something new in Chinese. It is not strange at all for a Chinese with such a name has a birthday of Jan. 1. Right?

bobo gigi
10 years ago

Race here at 28 minutes 58 of the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pso7BNHZ_sw

Jorge Ramalho
10 years ago

Matheus Santana will crush him and broke the World Junior Record at 50 and 100m free. Just wait and see.

jorge
Reply to  Jorge Ramalho
10 years ago

Of course Jorge! 😉

Reply to  Jorge Ramalho
10 years ago

It will be very hard for Santana to beat Yu.Santana has a long(and powerful) stroke, more suited for 100free than 50 free.And he needs a lot of improving on his starts.

bobo gigi
10 years ago

17, 18 or 19, anyway, it’s still a very good time for such a young sprinter.
I’m curious to see what he can do in the 100 free.

Philip Johnson
10 years ago

For the record, Yu Hexin’s birthday is listed, conveniently enough, at Jan 1, 1996. I would like to see the other document that has his birthday listed at 1995 before we throw any accusations at the Chinese swimming federation.

Rafael
Reply to  Philip Johnson
10 years ago

I only have the report from Craig.. I am trying to find the start list of the meed where he is 1995.. but chinese documents are hard to find..

If he is 1995, the relays would also be disqualified under rules.. while I agree for 19 year old it is a impressive, that would cost a bronze for Australia and some swimmer could also lose a medal on 50/100 free..

Bobo, At the relay he went 48,69 relay start

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Rafael
10 years ago

I’m looking too, it’s hard indeed. I’ll post it up here if I find anything.

If anyone can find a result sheet with the birthday of Yu, please share!

Rafael
Reply to  Braden Keith
10 years ago

Braden, That is what we thought too convenient.. we are trying to find any other sheet with birthdate

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Braden Keith
10 years ago

I’ve seen that. I was curious as to the 1995 birth date allegedly listed on a domestic meet and if anyone could locate that, it would be appreciated.

wusalu32
Reply to  Braden Keith
10 years ago

A 2008 local meet entry document (http://www.doc88.com/p-107814007162.html) listed his birthday as 1996.1. The document is in Chinese and his name is on page 11. He was a six grader then representing his elementary school in a local district meet in Canton. There is a star next to his name meaning that he trained with Canton Municipal Sports Club and hence not using his school’s quota.

Vera
Reply to  Rafael
9 years ago

I guess your suspect about Yu’s age is wrong. His name, “Hexin” means celebrate something new in Chinese. It is not strange at all for a Chinese with such a name has a birthday of Jan. 1, which is the date to celebrate the new year.

Rafael
10 years ago

Alert.. Craig Lord wrote down that Yu Hexin was listed as 1995 born on a domestic event at China…

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Rafael
10 years ago

Which would make him 19 and thus ineligible for the Youth Olympics?

Rafael
Reply to  Philip Johnson
10 years ago

Exactly, and also his Jr World Record is not valid too

bobo gigi
Reply to  Rafael
10 years ago

😆

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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