Optimism high as team takes aim at Paris Olympics

China finished the 2024 World Aquatics Championships on the top of the medal table on Sunday night as the swimming team gave its best performance since the 1994 worlds and a surging crop of young blood made a string of remarkable breakthroughs during their debut at the global flagship aquatics event in Doha, Qatar. 

Following 17 days of record-breaking performances and dramatic finishes, China led the overall medal table with 23 golds, eight silvers and two bronzes, far ahead of the second-placed US, which had nine golds.

China's artistic swimming team also chalked up its best-ever performance in the history of the worlds, pocketing seven golds, one silver, and one bronze.

Previously slated to take place in 2023, the Doha worlds was moved to 2024 due to the pandemic and thus was seen as an opportunity to assess the outcomes of training efforts for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

While some star swimmers, including Olympic champion Zhang Yufei and world record breaststroker Qin Haiyang, opted to skip the worlds to focus on the Paris Games in July, a young lineup of swimming phenom spearheaded by Pan Zhanle made a big splash in Doha with 11 members being crowned with world titles.

Having flirted with the 100m freestyle world record at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, Pan trimmed 0.06 seconds off the record of 46.86 set by Romanian David Popovici in 2022 thanks to his stunning leadoff leg during China's gold medal-winning 4x100m free relay on opening night. It was also China's first men's 100m freestyle relay gold medal in a worlds or Olympic Games. 

"I wasn't looking for the record. It just happened. I was focused on myself and my performance," Pan said after breaking the record.

Having set the only new world record at Doha, the 19-year-old also won his first individual worlds title with 47.53 seconds in the following 100m freestyle final, stamping himself as one of the top contenders heading to the Paris Olympics. He wrapped up this worlds with four golds.

"This is my first [individual] world championship title. I know it's only the beginning. I will keep moving forward. Let's meet in Paris," Pan noted. 

Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Monday that she is happy to see the emergence of teenage prospects but expressed tempered optimism toward the Chinese swimming team.

"Given the absence of world swimming stars in Doha, we need to be cautious about the results. Pan still has room for improvement and he will face stern challenges from Romanian Popovici and Australian Kyle Chalmers as both skipped the Doha event. The ultimate test is in Paris," Liu said.

"But young blood such as Dong Zhihao, Tang Qianting and 16-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo delivered impressive performances and offered us hope for the future," Liu noted.  

Dong, 18, claimed his first individual gold at the worlds after he came from behind with 50 meters remaining to win the men's 200m breaststroke, while Tang triumphed in the 100m breaststroke and shaved time off the 50m breaststroke Asian record three times in Doha. 

Meanwhile, 16-year-old artistic swimmer Yang Shuncheng made history for China as he was crowned the champion in the men's solo technical final, marking China's first participation and victory in the event at the worlds.

With Cheng Wentao and Shi Haoyu defending their mix duet free title with a superb portrayal of the theme Romeo and Juliet, the Chinese artistic swimming team notched their best-ever performance at the worlds and the most gold medals won by a single team in tournament history.

From breaking the gold medal drought at the 2017 worlds to securing four golds and two bronzes in 2022, Chinese artistic swimmers have made steady progress. However, coach Zhang Xiaohuan remains cautiously optimistic as she looks ahead to the Paris Olympics.

"It does not indicate China's dominance in artistic swimming. We made a positive impression on the judges at the worlds, but our opponents will be stronger at the Paris Olympics. We must strive to do better, and maximize our advantages under the new rules. Difficulty, artistic impression, and execution are all equally crucial," Zhang said. 

"Under the new rules, even minor mistakes could cost medals. The competition is up for grabs and no one is undefeatable," Zhang note. 

China's diving team maintained their dominance in the event as they bagged nine golds and four silvers. 

It was announced on February 11 that Beijing will host the flagship event in 2029, when elite athletes from over 200 countries and regions will compete in the six aquatic sports of swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving.