Wang Shun
Chinese swimmer (born 1994)
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Wang Shun (simplified Chinese: 汪顺; traditional Chinese: 汪順; pinyin: Wāng Shùn; born 11 February 1994) is a Chinese competitive swimmer. A versatile medley swimmer, he became the first Asian male swimmer to win a gold medal at the men's 200m individual medley at the Olympic Games when he came in first at the 2020 Summer Olympics men's 200 metre individual medley. He is also the first swimmer from China to win a gold medal in an Olympic men's medley swimming event.[2] He had earlier won a bronze medal in the same event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[3]
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In addition to his Olympic medals, Wang has also won four bronze medals at the World Championships, two gold and one bronze medals at the World Championships (short course) and eleven medals (five golds, three silvers, three bronzes) at the Asian Games.
Wang is the current national record holder in individual medley swimming for both short and long courses in all distances (100, 200, and 400 metres). He is also the holder of the Asian record for the 200 metres individual medley (long course) and 100 metres individual medley (short course).
Early and personal life
Wang was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang province of China. He started swimming at the age of 6 and entered the Zhejiang swimming team at the age of 13. Wang is an alumnus of the School of Economics and Management at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He obtained his master degree from the Beijing Sport University and is currently pursuing his doctorate degree from the sports school of Ningbo University.[4]
Career
In November 2010, at age 16, Wang first represented China at the 2010 Asian Games and won a silver medal in the men's 200m individual medley event. In September 2011, he broke the Asian record when he won the men's 400m individual medley at the Chinese National Swimming Championships. [5]
In July 2012, he made his Olympic debut at the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London, finishing 22nd in the men's 200m individual medley event.[6] In November 2012, he won gold medals in both the men's 200m and 400m individual medley at the 2012 Asian Swimming Championships.
In April 2013, he set the national record when he won the men's 200m individual medley at the Chinese National Swimming Championships.[7] In September 2013, he broke his own national record when he won the men's 400m individual medley at the 2013 National Games of China.
In August 2015, Wang broke his own national record when he won the bronze medal in the men's 200m individual medley at the 2015 World Championships, achieving a breakthrough for China in its men's medley swimming performance at international competitions.[8]
In August 2016, Wang won his first Olympic medal when he came in third in the men's 200m individual medley at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In December 2016, he won the gold medal in the men's 200m individual medley at the 2016 World Championship (SC), making it the first gold medal China has won in any international men's medley swimming event.[9]
In July 2017, Wang won the bronze medal in the men's 200m individual medley at the 2017 World Championships, making it his second bronze medal at two consecutive World Championships.[10]
In August 2018, Wang won his first Asian Games gold medal when he came in first in the men's 200m individual medley at the 2018 Asian Games.[11]
In July 2021, Wang won his first Olympic gold medal when he came in first at the men's 200m individual medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics, setting a new Asian record with his timing of 1:55.00, making him the second male swimmer from China to win an Olympic gold medal after Sun Yang. This is also the first gold medal won by an Asian male swimmer in the Olympics men's 200m individual medley event, and the first gold medal won by a Chinese male swimmer in any medley swimming event at the Olympics.[12][13]
In September 2021, Wang won 6 gold medals in the 2021 National Games of China, bringing his total gold medal tally in the National Games to 15, setting a new record for an athlete with the most number of gold medals in the history of the National Games of China [14] He also matched his own personal best timing in the 200m freestyle at 1:46.14, last set 10 years ago.
Wang was named "Asian Male Swimmer of the Year" by SwimSwam for the 2021 year.[15]
In March 2023, Wang won 4 gold medals in the 2023 National Spring Championships, recording a new personal best timing of 54.09 in the 100m backstroke event. In May 2023, he bagged 4 gold medals and 1 silver medal in the 2023 National Swimming Championships and recorded new personal best timings in three events (100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 100m breaststroke).[16]
In September 2023, Wang was the main torch bearer who lit the cauldron during the 2022 Asian Games opening ceremony in Hangzhou.[17] He went on to win the men's 200m individual medley gold medal in the Games with a time of 1:54.62, breaking his own Asian record and becoming the third best swimmer in history for this event.[18] He also recorded a new personal best timing of 53.87 in the 100m backstroke when he swam the first leg of the men's 4x100m medley relay.
In August 2024, Wang won a bronze medal at the men's 200m individual medley at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He became the first Asian swimmer to win individual medals in 3 consecutive Olympics Games.[19]
In August 2025, Wang was officially elected into the World Aquatics Athletes Committee for the 2025-2029 term, representing swimming from the Asian continent.[20]
In November 2025, Wang won 4 gold medals in the 2025 National Games of China, bringing his total gold medal tally in the National Games to 19, setting a new record for an athlete with the most number of gold medals in the history of the National Games of China.[21]
International championships (50 m)
| Meet | 200 medley | 400 medley | 200 freestyle | 100 backstroke | 4x100 freestyle | 4x200 freestyle | 4×100 medley | 4×100 mixed medley |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AG 2010 |  | |||||||
| WC 2011 | 18th |  | ||||||
| OG 2012 | 22nd | |||||||
| AC 2012 |  | | | |||||
| WC 2013 | 4th | 14th | | |||||
| AG 2014 | | |||||||
| WC 2015 | | |||||||
| OG 2016 | | 10th | ||||||
| AC 2016 | | | | | ||||
| WC 2017 | | 19th | 42nd | 11th | ||||
| AG 2018 | | | | |||||
| WC 2019 | 6th | 23rd | 6th | |||||
| OG 2020 | | 10th | 9th | |||||
| WC 2022 | 15th | 14th | 8th | |||||
| WC 2023 | 11th | DSQ | ||||||
| AG 2022 | | | | | | | ||
| OG 2024 | | |||||||
| WC 2025 | 7th | DNS | 27th | | 9th |
International championships (25 m)
Personal bests
- As of October 18, 2024[22]
Long course (50-meter pool)
| Event | Time | Meet | Date | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | 23.68 | 2023 Chinese National Swimming Championships | May 5, 2023 | |
| 100 m freestyle | 48.81 | 2023 Chinese National Swimming Championships | May 5, 2023 | |
| 200 m freestyle | 1:45.71 | 2023 Chinese National Swimming Championships | May 4, 2023 | |
| 1500 m freestyle | 14:56.92 | 2011 Chinese City Games | October 17, 2011 | |
| 50 m backstroke | 25.59 | 2019 World Cup | August 9, 2019 | |
| 100 m backstroke | 53.78 | 2024 Chinese National Swimming Championships | April 21, 2024 | |
| 200 m backstroke | 1:58.68 | 2015 World Cup | August 12, 2015 | |
| 50 m breaststroke | 28.56 | 2023 Chinese National Swimming Championships | December 10, 2023 | |
| 100 m breaststroke | 1:01.15 | 2023 Chinese National Swimming Championships | December 10, 2023 | |
| 200 m breaststroke | 2:16.30 | 2012 Chinese National Swimming Championships | September 22, 2012 | |
| 50 m butterfly | 24.53 | 2022 Asian Games | September 24, 2023 | |
| 100 m butterfly | 52.83 | 2020 Chinese National Swimming Championships | September 28, 2020 | |
| 200 m butterfly | 1:56.70 | 2013 Chinese National Swimming Championships | April 4, 2013 | |
| 200 m individual medley | 1:54.62 | 2022 Asian Games | September 24, 2023 | AS,NR |
| 400 m individual medley | 4:09.10 | 2013 National Games of China | September 4, 2013 | NR |
Short course (25-meter pool)
| Event | Time | Meet | Date | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | 23.64 | 2013 World Cup | November 5, 2013 | |
| 100 m freestyle | 48.71 | 2013 World Cup | November 5, 2013 | |
| 200 m freestyle | 1:43.43 | 2018 World Cup | November 11, 2018 | |
| 50 m butterfly | 23.78 | 2016 World Cup | October 1, 2016 | |
| 100 m butterfly | 53.72 | 2013 World Cup | November 13, 2013 | |
| 200 m butterfly | 1:51.94 | 2013 World Cup | November 13, 2013 | |
| 100 m individual medley | 51.24 | 2024 World Cup | October 18, 2024 | NR,AS |
| 200 m individual medley | 1:51.01 | 2018 World Championships | December 11, 2018 | NR |
| 400 m individual medley | 3:59.99 | 2018 World Cup | November 17, 2018 | NR |
Key: NR = National Record; AS = Asian Record
