World Aquatics boss expects China to perform well in swimming at Paris 2024

Husain Al-Musallam, president of the World Aquatics, expected Chinese swimmers and divers to perform well in the coming Summer Olympic Games in Paris this year in an interview with China Media Group (CMG).

China won seven of the eight diving gold medals as well as three golds, two silvers and one bronze in swimming at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

"I think from now to Paris, if they work hard, they take care of themselves, I think they will achieve very, very, very good result," the World Aquatics boss said when asked about his expectations for Chinese athletes at Paris 2024. "And, in the World Aquatics, I think China show a lot of high standard in last Olympic Games and the last World Championship(s). I think the medal explains itself where is the Chinese aquatics now."

Qin Haiyang and Zhang Yufei are two of China's latest swimming aces who combined to win 23 titles in three months last year. Qin was honored as the Best Male and Female Swimmer of the Year 2023.

"Their achievement(s) reflect their performance," Al-Musallam told CMG. "And their performance reflect(s) their hard training. Swimming is a sport where whoever give(s) (more time to) the training will go up. …I’m sure they will be the model for the future young Chinese swimmer(s)."

The Chinese diving team remains dominant in various competitions, but there are rising challengers including Egypt and Mexico. Al-Musallam saw that as a sign of diving growing more and more popular around the world. In order to develop the sport better, the World Aquatics needs the help and support of China, he said.

The World Aquatics, formerly known as Fédération internationale de natation (FINA), voted to change its name and its logo in December 2022. Al-Musallam, who began to work in the organization in 1996, believes that the new logo is modernized and connects all the continents, oceans and the nations.

(Cover: Husain Al-Musallam, president of the World Aquatics. /CMG)