'Through hardship to the stars'

Chinese swimming legend Wang Shun reflects on his five Asian Games appearances and 16 years at the top of his sport

By TU JIAYI in Nagoya, Japan | China Daily | Updated: 2026-10-02 00:00

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As the curtain falls on his fifth Asian Games, Wang Shun reflects on his 16-year competitive journey, upon which he has delivered national glory on Olympic, Asiad and world championship stages. AGENCIES

When 32-year-old Wang Shun looked around the Tokyo Aquatics Centre during the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, the Olympic champion saw more than just another medal opportunity.

He saw 16 years of his youth reflected in the pool.

At 32, and the oldest member of the Chinese swimming team in Nagoya, the five-time Asian Games veteran has turned the page on a remarkable chapter of his career.

"From my first Asian Games in Guangzhou to now, 16 years have passed," Wang told China Daily in Nagoya.

"When I first participated in the Asian Games, I was only 16. I have so many mixed feelings, so many emotions, but it's hard to put them into words. I just feel time passes incredibly fast. These moments at the Asian Games will be etched in my mind forever."

At the 2026 Asian Games, Wang showcased his enduring value to the national squad by claiming a gold medal as part of China's men's 4x200m freestyle relay team, adding to the two bronze medals he secured in the 400m and 200m individual medley events.

While his 200 IM time of 1:57.14 was a step down from his Asian record-setting 1:54.62 in Hangzhou in 2023, Wang has reached a stage in his career where he readily accepts the unpredictable nature of elite sports. Rather than obsessing solely over the clock, he now focuses on leaving the pool with the certainty that he gave 100 percent effort.

This serenity highlights a profound transformation for the 2020 Olympic champion.

Looking back on his journey from a hotblooded rookie to seasoned anchor of the team, Wang admits his mentality has drastically shifted.

"In terms of my mindset, I went from being quite naive about these competitions, hungry for gold medals and valuing winning above all else, to now, where I might not view winning as absolutely the only thing," Wang explained. "However, the determination to win, I believe, is still very much alive."

At 32, Wang acknowledges the physical realities of a prolonged swimming career: recovery takes longer, and his fundamental physical capabilities have largely been maximized through years of grueling practice. To discover any remaining margins of improvement, he has leaned heavily into sports science and data analysis.

"The reason I can still compete at this level is largely thanks to modern, scientific training methods and techniques," Wang said. "They help extend our sporting careers, allowing us to compete longer and maintain a highly competitive edge in the pool."

This analytical approach is also reflected in his life outside the competition lanes. Wang is currently pursuing a doctorate at Ningbo University, where his research involves utilizing motion recognition systems to examine the biomechanics of elite IM swimmers.

He hopes this academic endeavor will eventually yield concrete knowledge to help younger swimmers ascend past their own performance plateaus.

This dedication to lifting others is evident in his role as the "elder brother" of the Chinese squad.

Making his Asiad debut in Guangzhou in 2010, Wang was a wide-eyed teen guided by older athletes. Now, he watches proudly as young stars like Zhang Zhanshuo and Yu Zidi deliver world-shaking performances on the international stage.

"I feel that, in these young athletes, I see a fearless fighting spirit," Wang said. "They bravely showcase the vitality and energy of Chinese youth to all of Asia and the whole world."

Noting the benefit they will enjoy from sports science methods that were unimaginable in his early days, he added: "When these approaches are fed back to the younger athletes, it allows them, in a much shorter time, to integrate all these advantages into their own training routines."

Wang takes his mentorship role seriously, particularly when it comes to navigating the crushing psychological pressure of major events. He understands that a swimmer's first heat often dictates their mental expectations for the entire meet.

"Everyone is usually quite anxious," he noted. "If during the first race, my physical condition isn't ideal, and I feel exhausted swimming it, and the result is poor on top of that, then I'll be very worried about the whole competition."

Drawing on his own history of competitive anxiety, Wang often initiates chats with young athletes who struggle in their opening races to help stabilize their mindset.

Behind the medalist and mentor, however, is a grueling, often lonely journey.

"The highlights are visible to everyone," he said. "But of course, beyond the moments that aren't captured on camera — I think those are what truly represent the hardest points of my career. They are often unseen by the public; the times when I probably had more internal dialogues with myself, just trying to push through the process and move forward."

During past slumps, Wang relied heavily on these internal conversations to survive the monotony of closed training camps and the frustration of injuries.

"Sometimes, I truly felt lost and didn't know what to do," Wang confessed. "Sometimes, the frequency of the internal dialogues is incredibly high. It's been a process of constantly patching things up, and that's how I've made it to where I am today."

As his fifth Asiad comes to a close, the veteran refuses to place a definitive endpoint on his competitive career. Yet, whatever the future holds, his connection to the water remains unbreakable.

"No matter when, or where, I am in the future, I think my life will still be closely tied to the pool and to the world of sports," he said.

For Wang, this long, stumbling journey from a wide-eyed teenager to a revered Olympic champion has given profound new meaning to his favorite motto: "Through hardship to the stars."

"Every time you open the same book, it's not the content of the book that has changed, but rather the experiences you've gone through change its meaning," Wang smiled.

"I believe this understanding comes from constantly encountering challenges, solving problems and overcoming obstacles... I feel this is an incredibly precious spiritual asset on my journey of growth."

A SPLASHING SUCCESS

Name: Wang Shun

Date of Birth: Feb 11, 1994

Age: 32

Discipline: Individual medley and freestyle swimming

Motto: "Through hardship to the stars"

BY THE NUMBERS

1:54.62 — Wang's Asian record time in the 200m individual medley, set at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.

3 — Olympic medals (one gold, two bronze) won in the men's 200 IM across three consecutive Games (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024).

14 — Total Asian Games medals won across his career, including six golds.

5 — Total World Aquatics Championships medals won during his career.

OFFICIAL MEDAL RECORD 2016 Rio Olympics