Day four at the Chinese national championships in Quindao featured a pair of world No. 1-ranked times, both coming courtesy of Olympic bronze medalists from last summer in Rio.
Wang Shun won the men’s 200 IM in 1:56.16, taking down his own Chinese record in the event and moving comfortably into the No. 1 spot in the world rankings. He won bronze in the 200 IM at both the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympics, and Americans Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will both be absent at this summer’s World Champs in Budapest. Wang looks like the biggest challenger to Kosuke Hagino for a world title in the event.
Tan Haiyang finished second in 1:57.54, the second-fastest time in the world this year, and Mao Feilian was third in 1:59.87.
In the women’s 50 back, Fu Yuanhui ascended to the top of the world rankings with her time of 27.36. In fact, the top three finishers all surpassed what had previously been the top time in the world, Holly Barratt’s 27.60. Wang Xueer took second in 27.55, 0.01 ahead of Liu Xiang (27.56).
Sun Yang, already the winner of the 200, 400 and 800 free events in Quindao, won the 100 free in 49.27. He was followed by Yu Hexin (49.36), Lin Yongqing (49.45) and Cao Jiwen (49.47) to firm up China’s 400 free relay for the World Champs.
Zhou Yilin improved to fourth in the world in winning the women’s 200 fly, touching in 2:07.36, while runner-up Li Shuang touched in 2:09.14.
More dominance Zane
Sun Yang, is a living legend, still swimming at, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500. This has no precedence in history.
Katie Ledecky
No precedence for Sun Yang, among men. I was not aware that Ledecky swims the 100.