Swimmer Tang Qianting ready to be a role player for China in Paris

The year of 2024 so far has been full of surprises for Tang Qianting who performed well in a series of tournaments.

Tang won her first world title after finishing the women's 100-meter breaststroke event in 1:05.27 at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar in February. Two months later, she beat the Asian record of the event twice at the Chinese National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

Tang first finished the semifinals in 1:04.68 and then cut it to 1:04.39 in the final. The latter was only 0.26 seconds behind the world record kept by Lilly King of the USA. Tang also became the first and only swimmier in the event to beat 1:05 this year.

"The victory in Doha gave me more confidence and enabled me to perform better this time in Shenzhen," Tang told China Media Group (CMG). "Doha was just a start and a great boost for me in self-confidence. I felt the changes in my mindset after winning the world title in Doha. I became hungrier for training felt more motivated to work harder."

The Chinese national swimming team is training in east China's Shanghai Municipality behind closed doors to prepare for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Tang, 20, is expected to play a major role at the Olympics, especially in the women's 100-meter breaststroke event.

"I'm willing to give my everything for the Olympics," Tang said. "It has always been my dream to win an Olympic gold medal since I began to practice swimming as a child. It's something I never stop looking forward to. Winning it is the peak you can reach in this circle. I think I will enjoy my trip to Paris with a relaxed mindset. As long as I keep that state of mind, I can perform well."