Qin Haiyang Deserves to be Elected as the Best Swimmer of the Year
China News Service, Beijing, October 24 (Reporter Xing Rui) – The World Swimming Federation has announced the candidates for the “Best Swimmer of the Year” award, and Chinese swimmer Qin Haiyang has emerged as the male winner, while Australian swimmer McKeown won the female title.
Qin Haiyang has had an outstanding performance throughout the 2023 season. At this year’s Fukuoka World Swimming Championships, he swept the men’s 100-meter, 50-meter, and 200-meter breaststroke events, breaking the world record in the 200-meter breaststroke final. Qin Haiyang also made history by becoming the first player to win all gold medals in the 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter breaststroke at a single World Swimming Championships.
Following his success at the Fukuoka World Championships, Qin Haiyang claimed 5 gold medals at the Chengdu Universiade swimming competition and another 5 gold medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where he was also awarded the Hangzhou Asian Games MVP (Most Valuable Athlete).
In the subsequent three World Cup events, Qin Haiyang won all nine gold medals in the men’s 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter breaststroke, securing his place at the top of the standings and ultimately winning the annual championship.
Qin Haiyang’s achievements include winning three consecutive championships in the three World Cup events, earning the title of “crown.” Speaking about the pressure that comes with such success, Qin Haiyang said, “I didn’t feel any pressure or burden to win all nine breaststroke championships. This was achieved through my hard work. The most important thing is the accumulation of daily training.”
Despite being born in 1999, Qin Haiyang is already considered a “veteran” of the Chinese swimming team. He began his training at the Navy Swimming Team training base in Shanghai at the age of 9. Since then, Qin Haiyang has consistently achieved remarkable results and has rewritten national and world youth records.
Qin Haiyang’s path to success hasn’t been without obstacles. He faced disappointments at the 2019 Gwangju World Championships and the Tokyo Olympics. However, he changed his mindset and began enjoying swimming again, which led to his recent surge in form and success.
Looking ahead, Qin Haiyang aims to raise the national flag and play the national anthem at the Paris Olympics next year. He plans to continue improving and learning from his experiences to achieve this goal.
Qin Haiyang’s exceptional performances throughout the season undoubtedly make him a deserving candidate for the title of the Best Swimmer of the Year. His hard work, dedication, and resilience have earned him recognition and praise within the swimming community.