This Day, That Year: Sept 19

Editor's note: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China.

On Sept 19, 1988, Zhuang Yong became the first Chinese swimmer to win an Olympic medal, with silver in the 100-meter freestyle at the 24th Olympic Games in Seoul, as seen in this item from China Daily.

In 1992, she went one better with gold in the 100-meter freestyle, beating world record holder Jenny Thompson of the United States, at the 25th Olympic Games in Barcelona. It was China's first gold medal in swimming.

Fu Mingxia, 13, won the women's 10m platform event, giving the country its second gold medal at the same Olympics.

China continues to record remarkable achievements in the international aquatic arena.

At the swimming events of the 2012 London Olympic Games, Sun Yang struck gold in the men's 400m and 1,500m freestyle, and compatriot Ye Shiwen clinched two golds in the women's 200m and 400m individual medley.

Sun won the gold medal in the men's 200m freestyle at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Ning Zetao became Asia's first world champion in the men's 100m freestyle at the 2015 world championships in Kazan, Russia. He officially announced his retirement on his 26th birthday this year.

At the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, in July, China topped the medal table with 16 golds, 11 silvers and 3 bronzes, maintaining its dominance throughout the 17-day swimming tournament.

One month later, at the second leg of the FINA Swimming World Cup in Jinan, Shandong province, China collected seven gold medals. The tournament includes seven legs, qualifying events for the Tokyo Olympics.