Qin Haiyang

Qin Haiyang (覃海洋, born 17 May 1999) is a Chinese swimmer who specializes in the breaststroke and individual medley. He currently holds the world record in the 200m breaststroke, which he set at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. At the same competition, Qin became the first swimmer in history to win all three breaststroke events at a single edition of the championships. Qin was also the former world junior record holder in the 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley. In 2023, Qin became the first Asian swimmer to be named as the Male Swimmer of the Year by World Aquatics. In the same year, Qin was also announced as the 'most valuable player' of the 2022 Asian Games.

Career
At his first major international competition, the 2018 Asian Games, he participated in the 4x100 metre medley relay and won gold.

Later in December, he competed in the 2018 World Championships, where he won the silver medal in the 200 metre Breaststroke.

Then, in 2019, he won three silver medals and one bronze at the Military World Games.

He qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in the 200 Breaststroke and finished first in his 200m breaststroke heat, but was disqualified for making an illegal kick after a turn, in what he called a "stupid mistake".

After this upset, he moved to Beijing, where he trained under Cui Dengrong, who also coached a Chinese Olympian, Zhang Yufei. Under his coaching, he saw large improvements.

In 2022, Qin competed in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. He won gold in the 100m breastroke event and set a new games record time of 57.76 seconds, which was 1.33 seconds ahead of fellow compatriot Yan Zibei, who took the silver. He also competed in the breastroke leg of both the mixed 4 × 100m medley relay, and the men's 4 × 100m medley relay, and won gold in both events. Qin also took gold in the 200m breastroke event, and set a new Asian Games record of 2 minutes and 7.03 seconds, and was 1.64 seconds ahead of his fellow compatriot, Dong Zhihao who won the silver. On the final day of the swimming championships, he won another gold and set a new Asian Games record in the 50m breastroke, with a time of 26.25 seconds, and with fellow teammate Sun Jiajun winning the silver.

At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, Qin became the first man in history to win gold in all three breaststroke events at a single edition of the championships, setting new Asian records for each event as well as becoming the current world record holder for the 200m.

Afterwards, at the 2023 Swimming World Cup, Qin won gold in all three breaststroke events (50m, 100m, and 200m) at all three World Cup legs, held in Berlin, Athens and Budapest. Qin was consequently named as the winner of the World Cup title due to his performances at all three legs.

Short course (25 m)
Key: NR = National Record ; AS = Asian Record ; WR = World Record

Short course (25 m)
Key: NR = National Record ; AS = Asian Record ; WJ = World Junior Record; WR = World Record ; h = heats; sf = semifinal