Singapore, august 4, 2025 – The Chinese national swimming team concluded its performance at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore with a total of 2 gold, 6 silver, and 6 bronze medals, marking a period of transition and evaluation as the team builds towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.The results highlight both promising developments and persistent challenges for the squad.
The championships served as the initial competitive stage of the new Olympic cycle, offering a crucial assessment of the team’s evolving composition.Key victories included gold medals in the women’s 200m butterfly, secured by 17-year-old Li Shiyu with a time of 2:05.88, and the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay, anchored by veteran Zhang Yifan. Silver medals were earned in the men’s 50m freestyle (Pan Zhanle, 21.75s), 100m freestyle (Hong Jinqi, 47.92s), 200m individual medley (Qin Haiyang, 1:56.22), 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m mixed freestyle relay, and the women’s 4x100m medley relay. Bronze medals came in the men’s 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 4x100m medley relay, women’s 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and 200m breaststroke.
A important aspect of the Chinese team’s performance was the emergence of a new generation of swimmers born after 2000. these athletes, including Li Shiyu, Wang Xiaoyu (16, bronze in the 200m breaststroke), and Chen Junyi (18, competing in multiple freestyle events), demonstrated potential and injected fresh energy into the team. However, the team continues to grapple with inconsistencies in men’s short-distance events. The men’s 4x100m medley relay team, for example, did not qualify for the finals, finishing 14th overall with a time of 3:34.56.
Despite the successes, structural weaknesses remain. The men’s team needs to develop greater consistency in sprint events to challenge established global powers like the United States and Australia.Relay performance, while showing improvement, requires further refinement to establish a sustained competitive advantage. The team’s coaching staff,led by head coach Zhou ming,is currently analyzing performance data from the Singapore championships to identify areas for focused improvement in training regimens and athlete growth. The next major competition for the Chinese team is the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, in November 2025.
The global swimming landscape is characterized by accelerating speeds, driven by advancements in training techniques and suit technology. The Chinese swimming program is undergoing a strategic adjustment period, prioritizing the development of young talent while maintaining a competitive presence on the international stage. The ultimate success of this transition will depend on the ability of these emerging athletes to rapidly gain competitive experience and build the mental fortitude necessary to excel at the highest levels of the sport.
