Veterans hold ground

陈小将

While the new stars shone, the veterans reaffirmed their class. Thirty-year-old Xu Jiayu completed a backstroke sweep at the National Games, winning the 50m, 100m, and 200m titles — his fourth consecutive national titles in the latter two events.

After Paris 2024, he focused on technical refinement to optimize his starts and maintain speed.

"Through technical updates, I aim to mitigate the disadvantages of age and extend my career," Xu said. "As a veteran, I hope to set an example for the younger generations, showing that with discipline, an athlete can have greater longevity."

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Wang Shun captured four golds at the 15th National Games, bringing his historic career total at the event to 19, the most by any athlete in National Games history.

On the women's side, 28-year-old Zhang Yufei, one of China's most decorated Olympians with two golds, three silvers and five bronzes, swept the women's 50m and 100m butterfly titles, proving that experience remains a potent force in the pool.

Yet, the sustained dominance of these stalwarts on the domestic scene also hints at an underlying tension within the squad's talent pipeline. While they continue to set the standard at home, their relative competitiveness on the international stage has shown signs of waning, underscoring the critical need for the emerging generation to swiftly bridge the gap, and do so consistently, against the world's best.