2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- Competition Schedule
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Entry Lists
- Results
After sweeping the IM events at the 2012 London Olympics, Chinese swimming star Ye Shiwen‘s career saw a steep decline into 2016. Tonight at the 2019 FINA World Championships, Ye cemented her comeback with her performance in the 200 IM.
Swimming fans saw a glimpse of Ye returning to top form as she swam a lifetime best in the 200 breast this year, which, at the time, made her the fastest woman in the world for 2019. Ye earned 3 event titles at the 2019 Chinese Nationals, including the 200 breast and both IMs. She also shined at the Mission Viejo Swim Meet of Champions, where she won the 200 fly.
Tonight Ye proved that her upward trend in performance was not an anomaly, as she earned a silver medal in the 200 IM. It was the first time she’d won a major international medal since 2012, and the first Worlds medal she’s earned in the 200 IM since she won the event in 2011.
Ye has spoken about her struggles with doubt. She was just 16 when she broke the World Record in the 400 IM, and at one point considered retiring after Rio when she failed to final in the IM events. Since London, Ye had dealt with depression, weight gain, insomnia, and an ankle injury. She took a year away from the pool after Rio, focusing on her studies, but decided to return to swimming.
Back in 2018, Ye told China Daily, “To accept the fact that I am far from the world’s best is the first step to start catching up with the best.” After tonight’s performance, it’s safe to say she’s caught back up to the best swimmers in the world.
China’s Yan Zibei was also a medalist tonight. He broke his own Asian Record when he took bronze in the 100 breast with a 58.63. Xu Jiayu, also of China, stood out with a Championship Record of 52.17 in the 100 back semifinals.
ASIA MEDAL TABLE – DAY 2:
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| China | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
I had my doubts about Ye after London, but today I’m enjoying this delicious plateful of crow. What amazing grit and patience. Rooting for her in the 4IM.
As someone who was not following swimming stories as closely in 2012, any chance someone can elaborate on what sort of scrutiny Shiwen went through at that time?
In her 400 IM she had an amazing final 100 and outsplit Lochte in his 400 IM. She was then Accused of doping.
She erupted from nowhere at a young age (I think 15) to take the 200/400 IM. In the 400 IM she closed faster than a Lochte (who absolutely gassed himself the back/breast and was miles ahead by the free). There was a lot of suggestion and innuendo which is familiar to cycling fans of “it’s almost unbelievable”, “what has she been doing to come from nowhere to do this” etc. etc. To come past that and stick with a sport which, frankly, must have made her feel very unwelcome, shows serious mental resilience.
What made it seem hypocritical was that Ledecky did the same in the 800 free at London and Franklin did the same at 2011 Worlds, with… Read more »
She didn’t erupt from nowhere, you better check her results from 2010 and 2011.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye_Shiwen: “Aged just 14, Ye swam 4:33.79 in the Women’s 400m individual medley at the 2010 Asian Games.[6] She swam 2.09.37 in the 200m individual medley (IM),[6] the fastest time in the world for that year,[2] her time for the 400m IM being the second fastest time in the world for that year.[2] At the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai, Ye beat both Alicia Coutts and Ariana Kukors to win the gold medal in 200m individual medley.”
There were lots of median reports suspecting he was a drug cheat too…nothing has been found. This kind of thing keeps repeating.
She must love swimming to stay with it this long. Would love to hear her tell her story.
Ye Shiwen has had as much adversity as Missy Franklin if not more (changing of body shape leading to slower times, injuries)
Even in London, while the world media adored Missy, they crucified the one year younger Ye Shiwen. Any other 15 yo girl would have crumbled under such pressure.
More for sure
She’s one to watch for the other races she’s in.