Zhang Yufei during a fitness test ahead of the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Beijing, China, June 24, 2023. /CFP
Chinese stars are just days away from beginning their bid at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, which are scheduled to begin on July 14 in Fukuoka, Japan.
Olympic champion Zhang Yufei has been plagued by injuries in the lead-up to the biggest event of the calendar year, but the 25-year-old is optimistic that the rigorous training she has been undergoing lately would aid her in regaining her optimal physical state.
"Between May and July, I have seen a significant improvement in my lower body strength and explosive power," said Zhang, who is set to compete in multiple events in Fukuoka, including the women's 50m, 100m, and 200m butterfly, the women's 50m freestyle, and several relay races.
Zhang Yufei during a fitness test ahead of the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Beijing, China, June 24, 2023. /CFP
"Prior to this, my lower body strength was quite poor, and I used to avoid training it because it was a painful experience. However, I gradually started accepting and confronting this issue, and as a result, my physical fitness test results have improved, and I am pleased that my efforts have paid off."
The sentiment was echoed by another Olympic gold medalist Li Bingjie, who holds the Asian record in the long course 400m freestyle and the short course 1,500m freestyle.
"I've been doing pretty well lately, and my speed and endurance have significantly improved through training," Li told reporters.
"At this year's World Championships, I'm excited to test myself against the best swimmers out there, and see how I measure up against them. I'm looking forward to competing at the highest level and pushing myself to the limit."
Li Bingjie reacts after competing in women's 1,500m freestyle at China's National Swimming Championships in Hangzhou, China, May 1, 2023. /CFP
Li revealed that she has kept a close eye on American swimming legend Katie Ledecky, who has claimed seven Olympic gold medals and 15 World Championships wins.
"She [Ledecky] is truly remarkable, managing to maintain such a high level of performance even as she gets older," said Li. "I greatly admire her and find her to be a source of inspiration. And I aspire to become an athlete like her one day."
Chinese veteran Wang Shun, who is about to embark on his 7th World Championships, has also exuded a great deal of confidence.
"Over the past few weeks, I have been putting extra effort into my physical training, with a particular focus on improving my speed and addressing other areas where I need improvement," said Wang, the reigning Olympic champion in the men's 200m individual medley.
Wang Shun during a fitness test ahead of the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Beijing, China, June 24, 2023. /CFP
"I'm already starting to see the results of my hard work, as evidenced by my performance in two qualifiers earlier this year. Looking ahead to the World Championships and Asian Games, hopefully I can continue to build on this progress and take my performance to new heights.
"Every athlete dreams of winning a gold medal, and I'm looking forward to seizing the opportunity to display the full extent of my abilities at the upcoming tournament."