Wang Shun Posts 1:56.78 to Win 200 IM Final at Chinese Olympic Trials

CHINESE OLYMPIC TRIALS #1

• Friday, April 30th – Saturday, May 8th
• Qingdao, China
• Primary Olympic Qualifier
• LCM (50m)
• Results via Asian Media
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Finals Recap
• Day 4 Finals Recap
• Day 5 Finals Recap

Two-time Olympian Wang Shun came within .62 of his own 200 IM Chinese National Record on day five of the Chinese Olympic Trials. He touched the wall first with a time of 1:56.78, more than 2.5 seconds faster than his semifinals time yesterday.

Shun’s season-best time of 1:56.27 from November places him at the top of the world’s rankings in the event this season:

For context, Shun won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics in this event with a time of 1:57.05.

Both Shun and second place finisher Qin Haiyang beat the FINA ‘A’ cut today. While Shun has already qualified in the 400 IM and 200 free, this is 21-year-old Haiyang’s first event on China’s Olympic roster.

19-year-old Yang Junxuan added the 100 freestyle to her name on China’s Olympic roster today, winning the final with a time of 53.21, about one-third of a second off Zhang Yufei‘s Chinese National Record. Yufei scratched the 100 free semifinal yesterday, potentially to focus on the 200 fly final, after she tied her 100 free National Record during prelims.

Junxuan has been on fire this week as she broke her 200 free Asian Record earlier in the meet to win the final.

Second place finisher Wu Qingfeng had a tight race with Cheng Yujie as both swimmers beat the FINA ‘A’ cut and finished .07 apart with Qifeng touching the wall first at 53.84.

In the women’s 200 breast final, Yu Jingyao took 1st place with a time of 2:25.27, under the FINA ‘A’ cut. Ye Shiwen, a two-time gold medalist at the 2016 Olympics, placed 2nd about 2 seconds off the FINA ‘A’ cut.

Xu Jiayu officially swept the backstroke events, winning the 100 back final today with a time of 1:56.92. He finished with a lead of about 1.5 seconds over the field and he cracked the FINA ‘A’ cut by  .58. Jiayu won silver in this event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Chinese National Record-holder Li Zhuhao was set to be a major contender in the men’s 100 fly, however, he finished in 6th place (53.71) in prelims. He did snag a spot in the finals race today, though, by placing 8th in the semifinals (53.82). Zhuhao claimed 5th place in this event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

As a reminder, this is the first of two Olympic qualifying meets for China, with the second Trials meet scheduled for May 31st – June 1st. While some events have less than two swimmers qualified so far, those unclaimed Olympic roster spots can be earned later this month. You can read our most recent Chinese Olympic roster update here.

Top 3 Finishers in Each Event:

Men’s 100 Butterfly – Semifinal

• Fina ‘A’ cut: 51.96
• Chinese National Record: 50.96 – Li Zhuhao (2017)

1. Sun Jiajun – 52.45
2. Chen Juner – 53.11
3. Hong Jinquan – 53.35

Women’s 200 Breaststroke – Final

• Fina ‘A’ cut: 2:25.52
• Chinese National Record: 2:21.37 – Qi Hui (2009)

1. Yu Jingyao – 2:25.27
2. Ye Shiwen – 2:27.54
3. He Yun – 2:27.84

Men’s 200 Backstroke – Final

• Fina ‘A’ cut: 1:57.50
• Chinese National Record: 1:53.99 – Xu Jiayu (2018)

1. Xu Jiayu – 1:56.92
2. Li Guangyuan – 1:58.66
3. Jin Yan – 2:00.13

Women’s 100 Freestyle – Final

• Fina ‘A’ cut: 54.38
• Chinese National Record: 52.90 – Zhang Yufei (2020)

1. Yang Junxuan – 53.21
2. Wu Qingfeng – 53.84
3. Cheng Yujie – 53.91

Men’s 200 Individual Medley – Final

• Fina ‘A’ cut: 1:59.67
• Chinese National Record: 1:56.16 – Wang Shun (2017)

1. Wang Shun – 1:56.78
2. Qin Haiyang – 1:59.43
3. Liu Zongyu – 2:02.74

Women’s 200 Backstroke – Semifinal

• Fina ‘A’ cut: 2:10.39
• Chinese National Record: 2:06.46 – Zhao Jing (2010)

1. Peng Xuwei – 2:11.35
2. Liu Yaxin – 2:11.38
3. Wang Jiayin – 2:12.61