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The Chinese Swimming Association announced its team for the 2021 Olympic Games in Japan where swimming will start in 18 days. The team will be comprised of 19 women and 11 men.
Zhang Yufei (100, 200 fly), Xu Jiayu (100 back), Yang Junxuan (200 free), Wang Jianjiahe (800, 1500 free), Yu Liyan (200 fly), Wang Shun (200 IM) and Li Bingjie (400, 800, 1500 free) are the country’s best hopes for medals.
Xu Jiayu – Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Xu won silver in the 100 back in Rio, and is the two-time reigning World champ in that event. Wang Shun won bronze in Rio in the 200 IM, while Zhang has the top time in the world this year in the 200 fly and is ranked second in the 100. Yang is ranked third in the world in the 200 free, and Wang and Li have both been on the podium at World Champs in their events.
Wang Jianjiahe – Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
China also set the world record in the mixed medley relay last year with the team of Xu, Yan Zibei, Zhang, and Yang as they will be favorites to win the inaugural gold medal in Tokyo.
Ai Yanhan, Chen Jie, Liu Yaxin, Yu Hexin, Yu Jingyao, Zhang Yufei and Zhu Menghui are on their second Olympic team, while Wang Shun, Xin Xin and Xu Jiayu are on their third team after first appearing in 2012.
Notably, the team is without big stars Ye Shiwen, Liu Xiang, Fu Yuanhui, Li Zhuhao, who did not meet the qualifying standards or finish in the top two at Nationals, as well as Sun Yang, who is serving a four-year suspension. Chen Xinyi is also not on the roster for Tokyo even though she met the qualifying standard in the 200 IM this year. Chen served a doping suspension for failing a doping test during the 2016 Olympics where she was fourth in the 100 butterfly.
In addition, ten divers and eight artistic swimmers will represent China in Tokyo.
Women’s Swim Team:
- Ai Yanhan
- Chen Jie
- Cheng Yujie
- Dong Jie
- Li Bingjie
- Liu Yaxin
- Peng Xuwei
- Tang Muhan
- Tang Qianting
- Wang Jianjiahe
- Wu Qingfeng
- Xin Xin
- Yang Junxuan
- Yu Jingyao
- Yu Yiting
- Yu Liyan
- Zhang Yifan
- Zhang Yufei
- Zhu Menghui
Men’s Swim Team:
- Cheng Long
- He Junyi
- Hong Jinquan
- Ji Xinjie
- Qin Haiyang
- Sun Jiajun
- Wang Shun
- Xu Jiayu
- Yan Zibei
- Yu Hexin
- Zhang Ziyang
Chinese Olympic Diving Team:
- Cao Yuan
- Chen Aisen
- Chen Yuxi
- Quan Hongchan
- Shi Tingmao
- Wang Han
- Wang Zongyuan
- Xie Sicheng
- Yang Jian
- Zhang Jiaqi
Chinese Olympic Artistic Swimming Team:
- Feng Yu
- Huang Xuechen
- Liang Xinping
- Sun Wenyan
- Wang Qianyi
- Xiao Yanning
- Xu Li
- Yin Chengxin
Why do the Chinese have 30 going? Thought the limit was 26 per country
Limit is 26 per gender.