Taking a splashy new approach

With four pairs competing in mixed duets at the recently concluded Beijing stop of the FINA Artistic Swimming World Series and the national championships, China's male artistic swimmers are on the rise and embracing a promising future.

Male artistic swimmers competed for the first time at the 2015 world championships, but it wasn't until two years later that China sent its first one to the international stage. Shi Haoyu, paired with Zhang Yayi, finished third in the technical routine mixed duet in 2017.

With male artistic swimmers gaining a higher profile, Liu Zhongpei, 19, and Jiang Jiawei, 16, both converted divers, as well as He Wenjin, a former water polo player, competed at the national championships in Beijing.