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Wu Qingfeng, a 22-year-old swimmer from Shaoxing, greets audiences in Shenzhen. [Photo/2025 National Swimming Championships]

Wu Qingfeng, a 22-year-old swimmer from Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, emerged as the most decorated female athlete at the 2025 National Swimming Championships, which concluded on May 24 in Shenzhen. She clinched a total of eight gold medals across individual and relay events.

On the final evening, Wu won the women's 50-meter freestyle and anchored Zhejiang's victory in the women's 4×100-meter medley relay — the last event of the meet. In the relay, Zhejiang trailed Shanghai after the backstroke and breaststroke legs but surged ahead with strong swims from Yu Yiting and Wu, who closed with a dominant freestyle leg.

Earlier that night, Wu had set a personal best of 24.18 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle final, breaking the meet record and posting the fastest time in the world this year.

The championships, regarded as China's top-level domestic competition, also served as qualifiers for the 15th National Games and the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Wu met the A-standard for all her events.

Over the eight-day meet, Wu competed in four individual events and five relays. She won gold in every final she entered, except the women's 200-meter freestyle, which she skipped after winning the preliminary due to scheduling demands.

"She's growing into China's leading sprinter," said Zhao Meihua, Wu's first coach. "Her stamina and maturity have reached a new level, especially after altitude training."

Shaoxing athletes delivered strong performances overall, with He Junyi and Xie Yichen each winning three relay golds for Zhejiang.