Yang Peiqi Has Emerged as Promising Force for China in International Waters
For a little under a decade, Li Bingjie has been a multi-distance force for China in the freestyle events. The 23-year-old, who first emerged on the global scene at the 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, has medaled globally in every distance from 200 meters through 1500 meters. While Li is expected to continue to excel in the years ahead, China has a carbon copy surging through the ranks.
At the World Junior Championships, which concluded on Sunday in Otopeni, Romania, Yang Peiqi was the most successful athlete with a seven-medal haul. Individually, the 18-year-old won gold in the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle, an effort that emulated the range of Li. Yang also helped China to a trio of relay medals, including gold in the 800 freestyle relay.
Yang was a member of the Chinese squad that competed at the World Championships earlier this summer in Singapore. At the senior level, she advanced to the finals of the 400 freestyle and 1500 freestyle, and placed ninth in the 800 free. She also contributed to the bronze medal 800 freestyle relay. The momentum she built in Southeast Asia obviously carried over to her appearance in Eastern Europe.
Gold in the 800 freestyle opened the meet for Yang, who was timed in 8:22.93. That effort was followed by a 4:05.38 in the 400 freestyle and a 16:08.37 in the 1500 freestyle. Her best effort might have been her performance in the 200 freestyle, where she went 1:56.25 to beat American Rylee Erisman by a half-second. For good measure, Yang was invaluable on Chinese relays. She split 1:55.54 on the 800 freestyle relay and turned in 100-meter splits of 54.51 and 54.14 as China took bronze and silver, respectively, in the 400 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay.
With three years remaining before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Yang has positioned herself as a key lynchpin for China in international waters.
