He Shibei Makes History with Hong Kong’s First Gold Medal at Doha World Swimming Championships
In a historic moment for Hong Kong, China, swimmer He Shibei clinched the first gold medal in the history of the Hong Kong Swimming Championships at the Doha World Swimming Championships. On the 14th local time, He Shibei won the women’s 200-meter freestyle final with a remarkable time of 1 minute and 54.89 seconds, securing the first individual world championship gold medal for her country.
He Shibei, who had ranked second in the semi-finals, displayed exceptional strength and skill in the women’s 200-meter freestyle final. With a strong start and sustained acceleration, she claimed the championship title, leaving New Zealand and Australian players trailing in second and third place, respectively. Additionally, Chinese teenager Ai Yanhan placed eighth in the event.
Currently holding the Asian record in the women’s 100m and 200m freestyle, He Shibei is set to compete for a second gold medal in the individual World Championships. Notably, Chinese star Li Bingjie, who originally planned to participate in the women’s 200-meter freestyle competition, announced on social media that due to physical issues, she would be withdrawing from the event and focusing on the team relay.
In the men’s 100-meter freestyle semifinals, Chinese players Pan Zhanle and Wang Haoyu claimed the top two spots, securing their places in the upcoming finals. South Korean player Huang Xuanyou also advanced to the finals, setting the stage for an exciting competition.
The day’s competition saw impressive performances from two Chinese teenagers as well. Ma Yonghui, 17, set a new personal best time of 2:08.73 in the women’s 200-meter butterfly semifinals, securing a spot as the youngest finalist. Zhang Zhanshuo, a member of the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay gold medal team, also achieved a personal best time of 1:58.98 in the men’s 200-meter individual medley semifinals.
On the 15th local time, the Doha World Swimming Championships will feature five finals, including the women’s 200m butterfly, men’s 100m freestyle, women’s 50m backstroke, men’s 200m individual medley, and women’s 4x200m freestyle relay. As the competition continues, all eyes will be on He Shibei and the Chinese team as they aim for further success in the prestigious event.