Shandong’s teenage swimming sensation Zhang Zhanshuo has become the undisputed star of the 15th National Games, clinching his sixth gold medal in a nail-biting men’s 1500m freestyle final today. The 18-year-old, who’s been dubbed the ‘Freestyle King’ by fans, completed his sweep of all individual freestyle events this week – from the 200m sprint to this endurance-testing marathon swim. 🌊
In a race that had fans on the edge of their seats, Zhang battled Zhejiang’s Fei Liwei stroke-for-stroke through the first 1000 meters. The pair swapped leads like TikTok trends before Zhang unleashed a blistering final 500m to clock 14:52.73 – securing his place in National Games history. 🥇
“Every medal feels like a new level unlocked,” Zhang told reporters after the race, his victory playlist still blasting from his AirPods. The Shenzhen Aquatic Center erupted as Shaanxi’s Li Chengyu rounded out the podium, marking another highlight for the tech hub’s first National Games hosting.
