Shenzhen, China, January 13, 2020: The first leg of the FINA Champions Swim Series 2020 will start on Tuesday, January 14 in Shenzhen, China. The field includes Chinese Olympic champions Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen.
Sun Yang is thrilled to be competing in Shenzhen. “I am quite familiar with this city as, in 2011, I was invited to be part of the Opening Ceremony of the Universiade,” he said at a press conference on Monday.
“I also had the opportunity to swim here, and every time I see the Natatorium I see things improving. I wish the best of luck to all swimmers and I am sure it will be a great competition,” Sun added.
Being an Olympic year, this is a special time for the Chinese ace: “I take this competition as an additional opportunity to train and set up successful routines for my swimming.”
Sun has accumulated six Olympic and 16 World Championships medals throughout his career.
Ye Shiwen is also looking forward to competing in the Series. “It’s the first meet of 2020 so I expect I can swim well and beat my own expectations. I will swim three events in the Olympic Games – 200m breaststroke and the 200m and 400m individual medley – and I expect to be on the podium in each of these races,” said Ye.
The 23-year-old Chinese star was 2012 Olympic champion in the two individual medley events, while in 2019 she was silver medallist in both races at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju (KOR).
FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu said: “We have great champions here in Shenzhen and this is very important for the exposure – in the media and through digital platforms – of the Champions Swim Series.
“I would like to express FINA’s gratitude to our great partner China, its Swimming Association and the local authorities responsible for the organisation of the Shenzhen and Beijing legs of the event.”
Zhou Jihong, President of the Chinese Swimming Association and FINA Bureau Member, concluded: “We are always eager to demonstrate China’s great interest and ability to stage FINA events. This partnership has been very successful over the years.”
The first leg of the FINA Champions Swim Series 2020 will be in Shenzhen on January 14-15. The second and final leg will be in Beijing on January 18-19.
Source: www.fina.org