Photo: VCG

Over 1,000 Chinese swimmers are set to compete at the national spring swimming championships, which is scheduled to be held from Tuesday to Sunday in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province.

According to the roster, a record-breaking 157 swimmers aged 15 and under will take to the pool. Among them, 10-year-old Yu Tianhao from Southwest China's Sichuan Province, born on July 20, 2014, will become the youngest competitor.

Most of the national team's star athletes, including sprint sensation Pan Zhanle and backstroke ace Xu Jiayu as well as female distance swimmer Li Bingjie, have opted to skip the spring championships, opening the door for emerging talents to showcase their potential. 

The spring championships are often considered a periodic assessment of winter training outcomes and mark the start of year-round preparation, while acting as a qualification challenge for selecting reserve talents in Chinese swimming.

"The absence of established stars provides a unique opportunity for young swimmers to step into the spotlight," Zhang Bin, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times. "It could be the chance for them to gain invaluable experience in competing with top-tier compatriots, and to test if their performance under high pressure matches their expectations or not."  

Three-time Olympic champion Sun Yang, who returned to competition in 2024 after serving a four-year ban due to controversial anti-doping rule violation, headlines as the eldest participant in the event. 

Representing his hometown team Zhejiang, the 33-year-old Sun is no longer able to compete for the national team due to domestic anti-doping regulations, thus making domestic games the only events in which he is permitted to compete.

However, the popular athlete's presence at the event has become a box-office magnet as tickets for Sun's disciplines such as the men's 400 meters freestyle have sold out.

Zhejiang Province, considered as a domestic powerhouse in swimming, is sending a strong 127-person delegation to the spring championships, including 97 athletes.

The competition in Qingdao will span distances from 50m sprints to endurance-focused 1,500m races, offering a comprehensive test of skill and stamina for the young swimmers.

A notable highlight will be 17-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo, who has signed up for three physically demanding events: the 1,500m freestyle, 200m butterfly, and 400m individual medley. 

The ambitious bid of Zhang, a two-time world champion in freestyle relays, underscores the rising intensity of competition among younger athletes who are eager to prove themselves on the national stage.

Adding to the excitement, Olympic champions Zhang Yufei (women's butterfly) of the team of East China's Jiangsu Province and Ye Shiwen (women's breaststroke) of the Zhejiang team are set to compete, bringing their expertise to a field brimming with fresh faces. 

In 2025, domestic swimmers are hoping to deliver their best performance at the National Games in November, with the elite Chinese swimmers facing a World Championships test in July in Singapore.

The spring championships will also debut cutting-edge technology, including an underwater video assistant referee system designed to enhance fair play and spectator engagement, according to the organizers. 

The host city Qingdao, leveraging its infrastructure and experience as a four-time venue for the event, also expects a significant tourism boost from hosting the competition.