The entire world of swimming has shifted shape in recent times and now there are two big rivals, Australia and the USA. This time round it was not between them but another upcoming competitor had come into play. It was just 24 hours after the close of the swimming competition at the Asian Games 2023 held at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre that it became quite noticeable that a new powerful team was arising to be America’s arch-rival in the pool.

This powerhouse is set to give an explosive display at the upcoming World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 and the Paris Olympics 2024. The Asian Games demonstrated how this new threat is changing the face of world swimming when the newly rising contender won 28 gold medals in a field of over forty-one events.

The ascendancy of China as a swimming rival of the USA after Australia

The Australians left no doubt of their dominance at the 2023 World Swimming Championships hosted in Fukuoka, Japan. They have been quite dominant by winning an incredible 25 medals- which comprised 13 gold, seven silver, and five bronze. Yet, notwithstanding Australia’s commendable performance at the championships in Japan, it was the US that had accumulated more medals throughout the championship to confirm its supremacy among all nations participating in this event.

This culminated in the Asian Games 2023 held at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre which saw China emerge as a swimming powerhouse. In addition, China’s swim team set a new record, winning twenty-eight gold medals out of forty-one, breaking Japan’s previous one of twenty-five gold medals won in 1978. It was an exceptional success that brought home the point that China had become a superpower in world swimming.

Some of the exceptional swimmers leading the charge for China included the likes of Qin Haiyang and Zhang Yufei whose abilities were evident in their multi-gold wins. Qin Haiyang also had an outing clinching a place in the 50m breaststroke and adding another gold to his already impressive tally of five medals. The outstanding performances of swimmers like Pan Zhanle, Wang Shun, Xu Jiayu, and others further cemented China’s reputation as a force in swimming.

With a pool of athletes across events, China is poised to be a strong contender against the United States in the upcoming World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023, setting the stage for an exhilarating rivalry in aquatic sports. However, there would be eyes on one particular swimming prodigy from China for her impressive strokes and achievements. 

Zhang Yufeis’ exceptional achievement

Zhang Yufeis’s remarkable performance at the Asian Games 2023 is truly extraordinary. She clinched six gold medals in categories such as the 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, and 200m Butterfly. She Was part of both the victorious teams, for the 4×100 Freestyle and 4x100m Mixed Medley races. She could have won seven golds but the disqualification of the China women’s 4x100m medley relay in morning heats cost her.

Alongside these achievements, Zhang also set records throughout her journey to become one of Asia’s decorated athletes at Hangzhou’s prestigious 19th Asian Games. China’s success can be attributed to its deep pool of talent. This is shown in their dominance in relay events and numerous one-two finishes in individual events. Swimmers like Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang, among others still young, are in their prime right now.

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The United States has held the throne for long enough. Now China is set on challenging the USA’s supremacy in swimming. Team China can not only bring up an upset to Team USA but also reigning champions Australia would be wary about them. With excitement riling up this will be a thrilling rivalry between America and China.

The battle for aquatic supremacy is bound to make waves next year in the City of Lights and at the upcoming World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 which will get underway from October 6 – 8 in Berlin and will continue October 13 – 15 in Athens, before its finish from October 20 – 22 in Budapest.

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