The Chinese swimming team is training in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, for the coming World University Games that will happen in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, from July 28 to August 8.

The team test races for 10 events, including the men's and women's 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter stroke. Coaches told athletes to do their best, like they were competing in the Universiade.

Another round of test races will take place after the team goes to Chengdu. The results of these competitions will play a key factor in the coaches' planning and rotations for the University Games.

Modern technology has been playing an increasingly important role in professional sports today. The Chinese swimming team benefits from it as well. Liu Zhenqing, chief of swimming of the Federation of University Sports of China, revealed that racing swimsuit has been of great help for athletes in improving their performance.

"Racing swimsuit creates less resistance than athletes' skin and, thus, can be helpful in improving swimmers' performance," Liu told China Media Group (CMG).

Swimmers consume more energy than athletes of other sports, both in training and in real competitions, Therefore, having scientific diets is integral to them maintaining a good form. The team not only calculates how much protein, fat and carbohydrate athletes need, but how and when they need to have them.

Coach Zhang Yuhan mentioned that swimmers will have an extra meal at 8:30 p.m. every day to refill glycogen.

Swimmers' health matters no less than their diets. That's why team doctors never miss their practice so they can always keep an eye on the athletes' health. Swimmers will undergo acupuncture and ultrasound therapy after finishing training sessions. Both can promote circulation of blood for better recovery.

(Cover photo: An athlete of the Chinese swimming team in practice at the training base in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, July 16, 2023. /China Media Group)