'Through hardship to the stars'
When 32-year-old Wang Shun looked around the Tokyo Aquatics Centre during the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, the Olympic champion saw more than just another medal opportunity.
He saw 16 years of his youth reflected in the pool.
At 32, and the oldest member of the Chinese swimming team in Nagoya, the five-time Asian Games veteran has turned the page on a remarkable chapter of his career.
"From my first Asian Games in Guangzhou to now, 16 years have passed," Wang told China Daily in Nagoya.
"When I first participated in the Asian Games, I was only 16. I have so many mixed feelings, so many emotions, but it's hard to put them into words. I just feel time passes incredibly fast. These moments at the Asian Games will be etched in my mind forever."
At the 2026 Asian Games, Wang showcased his enduring value to the national squad by claiming a gold medal as part of China's men's 4x200m freestyle relay team, adding to the two bronze medals he secured in the 400m and 200m individual medley events.
While his 200 IM time of 1:57.14 was a step down from his Asian record-setting 1:54.62 in Hangzhou in 2023, Wang has reached a stage in his career where he readily accepts the unpredictable nature of elite sports. Rather than obsessing solely over the clock, he now focuses on leaving the pool with the certainty that he gave 100 percent effort.
This serenity highlights a profound transformation for the 2020 Olympic champion.
Looking back on his journey from a hotblooded rookie to seasoned anchor of the team, Wang admits his mentality has drastically shifted.
"In terms of my mindset, I went from being quite naive about these competitions, hungry for gold medals and valuing winning above all else, to now, where I might not view winning as absolutely the only thing," Wang explained. "However, the determination to win, I believe, is still very much alive."
At 32, Wang acknowledges the physical realities of a prolonged swimming career: recovery takes longer, and his fundamental physical capabilities have largely been maximized through years of grueling practice. To discover any remaining margins of improvement, he has leaned heavily into sports science and data analysis.
"The reason I can still compete at this level is largely thanks to modern, scientific training methods and techniques," Wang said. "They help extend our sporting careers, allowing us to compete longer and maintain a highly competitive edge in the pool."
This analytical approach is also reflected in his life outside the competition lanes. Wang is currently pursuing a doctorate at Ningbo University, where his research involves utilizing motion recognition systems to examine the biomechanics of elite IM swimmers.
He hopes this academic endeavor will eventually yield concrete knowledge to help younger swimmers ascend past their own performance plateaus.
This dedication to lifting others is evident in his role as the "elder brother" of the Chinese squad.
Making his Asiad debut in Guangzhou in 2010, Wang was a wide-eyed teen guided by older athletes. Now, he watches proudly as young stars like Zhang Zhanshuo and Yu Zidi deliver world-shaking performances on the international stage.
"I feel that, in these young athletes, I see a fearless fighting spirit," Wang said. "They bravely showcase the vitality and energy of Chinese youth to all of Asia and the whole world."
