Ye Shiwen

Ye Shiwen is a Chinese female swimmer born on 1st March 1996. She is a native of Hangzhou city of Zhejiang in China. Ye is an Individual Medley specialist and represents China in 200m and 400m Individual Medleys.

Background:

Ye Shiwen was born to Ye Qingsong and Ning Yiqing. She was born and brought up in Zhejiang Province in East China. Both her parents were in athletics. Her father was a youth-level runner and her mother was a school champion in the high jump.

Ye Shiwen began to pursue swimming at the young age of 6 after her kindergarten teacher urged her to take the sport because of her long hands and feet. She joined the Chen Jinglun Sports School, where she received her first swimming lessons. In 2006, Ye Shiwen won the Gold medal in 50m Freestyle Zhejiang Provincial Games. Two years later, in 2008, she attended a national junior training camp.

After graduating from Chen Jinglun Sports School, Ye Shiwen joined Tsinghua University to pursue her further studies. She had moved to Brisbane, Australia for a while to train under Ken Wood, 3-time Olympic medalist, and Denis Cotterell, to improve her two weaker swimming strokes.

Rise to Glory:

Ye Shiwen received her first career break in 2010 at the age of 14 when she won a title in 200m Individual Medley and two Bronze medals in 400m Individual Medley and 100m Butterfly at the Chinese National Swimming Championships. The following year, she defended her national title in 200m Individual Medley and also won a Gold medal in 4x200m Freestyle and a Silver in 400m Individual Medley.

In 2013, Ye Shiwen clinched 4 national titles in 200m and 400m Individual Medleys, 200m Freestyle, and 200m Backstroke. That year, she took home two Gold medals in 200m and 400m Individual Medleys, a Silver in 4x200m Freestyle, and two Bronze medals in 200m Backstroke and 4x100m Medley at the National Games of China, followed by 200m Individual Medley Gold at the East Asian Games.

Till 2019, Ye Shiwen had won a total of over 25 National Championships medals. She holds national Long Course records in 200m and 400m Individual Medleys, Short Course records in 100m, 200m, and 400m Individual Medleys.

Major Achievements:

Ye Shiwen made her international debut at the 2010 Swimming World Cup, where she won three Gold medals in 200m, 400m Individual Medley, and 100m Freestyle. That year, she took home two Silver medals in 200n and 400m Individual Medleys at the World Swimming Championships, followed by two Gold medals in 200m and 400m Individual Medleys at the Asian Games.

In 2011, Ye Shiwen clinched the Gold medal in 200m Individual Medley at the World Aquatics Championships. The following year, she made her Olympics debut at the London Olympics and took home two Gold medals in 200m and 400m Individual Medleys.

At the 2012 World Swimming Championships, Ye Shiwen won the Gold medal and a Silver in 200m Individual Medley and 400m Individual Medley, respectively. In 2013, she competed at the World Aquatics Championships, where she finished 4th in 200m Individual Medley and 7th in 400m Individual Medley.

In 2014, Ye Shiwen clinched three Gold medals in 200m, 400m Medleys, and 4x100m Freestyle at the Incheon Asian Games. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she was placed 8th in the 200m Individual Medley final and 27th in 400m Individual Medley Heats. In 2019, she bagged two Silver medals in 200m and 400m Individual Medleys at the World Aquatics Championships.



Ye Shiwen will look to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and shall be in contention to win a medal in 200m and 400m Individual Medleys.