From June 1 to 4, the 20th China University Swimming Championships and the swimming trials of the 31st FISU World University Games ended in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. In the competition, CUEB high-level swimming team won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals, in addition to the 4th prize in four events and the 5th prize in one.

This match was hosted by Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC). It attracted a total of over 800 student athletes, team leaders, coaches, referees and staffs from 56 universities to participate. He Kai, Director of CUEB Sports Department, Coach Shu Xin and six athletes were among them.

Six athletes all signed up for the Group C in the competition. Ji Penghui, a student from Grade 2019, took the first place in women’s 50 meters freestyle with the grade of 27.20 seconds. Li Ludan, a student from Grade 2019, won two bronze medals in women’s 200 meters butterfly and 400 meters medley stroke, strengthening the overall capacity of women’s team. Bian Zihao and Bian Zinan, two new members from Grade 2020, showed no fear towards other competitors. Bian Zihao took the second place in men’s 400 meters medley stroke and the third place in men’s 200 meters butterfly. Meanwhile, Bian Zinan won the fourth place in both the men’s 50 meters breaststroke and 200 meters breaststroke. CUEB not only maintained a high level in middle- and long-distance freestyle, but also performed well in sprint.

Jiao Yu, a graduate student from Grade 2020, showed her best as usual in competing with many young athletes. Moreover, major member Jiao also succeeded former team leader in this event and led all the young members of the team to make progress together.

During the preparation for this competition, coaches and athletes of the swimming team overcame many difficulties together. Resurgence of COVID-19 in many places across the country resulted in campus lockdown of CUEB. Nevertheless, all the coaches and athletes did not stop exercising but had a 56-day training in winter vacation in a swimming pool outside CUEB. During the Spring Festival, Coach Shu Xin and athletes resumed training after only four days of break. Everyone knew that one more day off would lead to a bigger gap between themselves and their rivals. After returning to the campus, team members treated each training session with enthusiasm and finished their training actively and carefully while continuously finding and solving problems to improve their competencies. In addition, Coach Shu paid close attention to the physical and psychological state of each member in training, and would make timely pressure adjustments before the competition to motivate them to be at their best states. Before the competition, a team member said: “I hope that I can perform better and go beyond myself!”

Team members said that they found their shortcomings through the competition. In the following training, they will be more earnest and diligent in improving themselves, so as to earn better results and more honors for CUEB.