Teenager Zhang breaks national junior record to win 200m freestyle at China's National Games

Zhang Zhanshuo of Shandong celebrates after the men's 200m freestyle final of swimming at China's 15th National Games in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, Nov. 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Eighteen-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo broke the national junior record to win the men's 200-meter freestyle event at China's 15th National Games here on Wednesday.

Zhang clocked 1 minute and 44.86 seconds, ahead of Ji Xinjie (1:45.96), and Pan Zhanle (1:46.37).

"I'm part of the new generation, but I don't want to pressure myself too much," Zhang said. "I need to stay grounded and keep improving."

Asked about the nickname "the Zhan Generation," referring to himself and Olympic medalist Pan, Zhang said, "We're not just rivals, he is my idol. Pan encouraged me before the race, and I cherished competing alongside him."

Born in 2007, Zhang represented China in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2024 Olympics and this year's World Championships. Earlier at the National Games, he won the men's 400m freestyle in 3:42.82, breaking the world junior record.

In other events, Li Bingjie took the women's 1,500m freestyle gold in 15:55.40, Peng Xuwei won the women's 100m backstroke in 59.60, and Tang Qianting claimed the women's 100m breaststroke title in 1:05.36. Xu Jiayu secured his fourth straight National Games crown in the men's 100m backstroke, finishing in 52.39.