Editor's Note：

As the world's top-tier swimming tournament, the FINA World Championships, will first land in China, an epic story of Chinese swimming glory shall be told. From the first Olympic swimming medal finish at 1988 Seoul Olympics, to the blossom in several disciplines at Barcelona Games four years later, and to the new generation of "golden flowers" in the new century, China has made one splash after another in pool. Ups and downs, victory or failure, luckily, we have these swimmers, together with whom, we share the excitement and glory in pool. Here chinadaily.com.cn shares with you the stories of 10 Chinese mermaids while we are expecting China's first swimming championships.

Zhuang Yong is awarded the gold medal after winning the 100m freestyle final at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, July 26, 1992. Zhuang won China’s first Olympic gold medal in swimming. [Photo/Xinhua]