Chinese swimmers’ historic performance at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics was remarkable. They won two gold medals, three silver, and seven bronze, earning a total of 12 medals. This achievement set a new record for China and marked a historic moment on the global stage.

Pan Zhanle led the charge by winning the men’s 100-meter freestyle title with a new world record of 46.4 seconds. Pan played a crucial role in the men’s 4×100-meter medley relay. He teamed up with Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, and Sun Jiajun. They secured another gold medal for China. Their winning time was 3:27.76.

In addition to the gold medals, Tang Qianting earned a silver in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke. Xu Jiayu won silver in the men’s 100-meter backstroke. The mixed 4×100-meter medley relay team also competed. Xu, Qin, Zhang Yufei, and Yang Junxuan made up the team. They broke the Asian record with a time of 3:37.55. This performance secured another silver medal for China.

Chinese swimmers’ historic performance shone brightly with Zhang Yufei’s achievements. She contributed to five of China’s seven bronze medals. Zhang won bronze in the women’s 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, and 200-meter butterfly. She played a key role in the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay. Zhang, Yang Junxuan, Cheng Yujie, and Wu Qingfeng set an Asian record with a time of 3:30.3 to win bronze. She earned another bronze in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay with Wan Letian, Tang Qianting, and Yang Junxuan.

Wang Shun also delivered a strong performance, earning a bronze medal in the men’s 200-meter individual medley with a time of 1:56.

The Chinese swimmers’ achievements were even more remarkable considering the challenges they faced, including being the most tested team for anti-doping control at the Paris 2024 Olympics. According to World Aquatics, Chinese swimmers underwent an average of 21 out-of-competition tests since January, significantly more than their Australian and American counterparts, who were tested an average of four and six times, respectively.

China’s historic performance in the pool at Paris 2024 not only showcased the nation’s growing strength in swimming but also highlighted the resilience and dedication of its athletes in overcoming adversity.