Yu Yang
Encyclopedia
Yang Yu is a female Olympic medal-winning swimmer from the People's Republic of China
. She became part of the Chinese national swimming team in 1999, and will compete for Team China
at the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
and won the silver medal in the Women's 200 m Freestyle event (1:58.78), after Australia's Giaan Rooney
(1:58.57). At the 2001 Chinese National Games, she placed 2nd in both the 100 (54.94) and 200 free (1:58.71).
In the 2002 World Short Course Championships in Moscow, Yang took gold in the 4x200 free relay (7:46.30, world record), silver in the 200 free (1:55.34, Asian record) and 200 fly (2:06.10),and bronze in the 4x100 free relay (3:36.18). She won gold in the 200 free (1:58.43), 4x100 free relay (3:40.95), 4x200 free relay (7:58.46) and silver in the 100 free (55.51) at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.
Yang started the 2003 season strongly by posting a world-leading 1:57.70 at the Chinese Nationals in April 2003, but at the 2003 World Championships (Barcelona)
, she only managed 3rd in this event (1:58.54). She also took bronze in the 4x200 free relay (7:58.53. Yang split 1:57.24, the fastest in history), and gold in the 4x100 medlay relay (3:59.89, Asian record and 2nd fastest time in history. Yang swam the freestyle leg and split 53.71).
in Athens. There she was a member of China's 4 x 200 m freestyle relay
team, which won the silver medal in 7:55.97 (Asian record), beaten by the USA team who won in the world record of 7:53.42. Yang was also part of China's 4 x 100 m women's freestyle relay
team. China reached the final in this event but finished a disappointing 8th.
Yang competed as an individual in the 200m freestyle
event, and qualified for the semi-final, but did not progress to the final.
(1:59.26 to 2:00.73).
. She did not progress beyond the heat stage in the Women's 200 m freestyle, finishing 18th. She was also a member of the China's 4 x 200 m freestyle relay (which barely missed the final, placing 9th in the heats) and the 4 x 100 m freestyle relay which ranked seventh.
200 butterfly during a World Cup meet
in Berlin, Germany, clocking a time of 2:04.04.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. She became part of the Chinese national swimming team in 1999, and will compete for Team China
China at the 2008 Summer Olympics
China was the host nation of the 2008 Summer Olympics.China was represented by the Chinese Olympic Committee , and the team of selected athletes were officially known as Team China....
at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
International debut and the 2000 Olympics
Yang competed in her big international meet in the 2000 World Short Course Championships in Athens, where she won the 200 freestyle in 1:56.06. Later she qualified to swim at the Sydney Olympics, where she placed 17th in the 200 free (2:01.34).2001, 02 and 03 World Aquatic Championships
Yang competed at the 2001 Fukuoka World Championships2001 World Aquatics Championships
rightThe 2001 World Aquatics Championships or the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Fukuoka, Japan between 16 July and 29 July 2001....
and won the silver medal in the Women's 200 m Freestyle event (1:58.78), after Australia's Giaan Rooney
Giaan Rooney
Giaan Leigh Rooney OAM is a retired Australian swimmer. She won an Olympic gold medal and broke a world record at the Athens Olympics...
(1:58.57). At the 2001 Chinese National Games, she placed 2nd in both the 100 (54.94) and 200 free (1:58.71).
In the 2002 World Short Course Championships in Moscow, Yang took gold in the 4x200 free relay (7:46.30, world record), silver in the 200 free (1:55.34, Asian record) and 200 fly (2:06.10),and bronze in the 4x100 free relay (3:36.18). She won gold in the 200 free (1:58.43), 4x100 free relay (3:40.95), 4x200 free relay (7:58.46) and silver in the 100 free (55.51) at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.
Yang started the 2003 season strongly by posting a world-leading 1:57.70 at the Chinese Nationals in April 2003, but at the 2003 World Championships (Barcelona)
2003 World Aquatics Championships
Barcelona, Spain was the host city of the X FINA World Aquatics Championships or the 10th FINA World Championships in Aquatics, which were held from July 12 until July 27, 2003....
, she only managed 3rd in this event (1:58.54). She also took bronze in the 4x200 free relay (7:58.53. Yang split 1:57.24, the fastest in history), and gold in the 4x100 medlay relay (3:59.89, Asian record and 2nd fastest time in history. Yang swam the freestyle leg and split 53.71).
2004 Olympic Games
Yang competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens. There she was a member of China's 4 x 200 m freestyle relay
Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
The women's 4×200 metre freestyle relay was a swimming event held as part of the Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics programme. The competition was held on August 18, 2004.74 swimmers from 16 nations competed.-Medalists:...
team, which won the silver medal in 7:55.97 (Asian record), beaten by the USA team who won in the world record of 7:53.42. Yang was also part of China's 4 x 100 m women's freestyle relay
Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay
The women's 4×100 metre freestyle relay was a swimming event held as part of the Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics programme. The competition was held on August 14, 2004.72 swimmers from 16 nations competed.-Medalists:...
team. China reached the final in this event but finished a disappointing 8th.
Yang competed as an individual in the 200m freestyle
Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre freestyle
These are the results of the Women's 200 metre freestyle, one of sixteen events for female competitors in Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.-Records:-Medalists:-Heat 1:# Pilin Tachakittiranan, Thailand 2:05.29...
event, and qualified for the semi-final, but did not progress to the final.
2005-06
Yang did compete at the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, winning the bronze medal in the 200m freestyle event. She posted strong times at the 2005 Chinese National Games, winning the 200 free in 1:57.86, 2nd fastest in the world globally. At the 2006 World Short Course Championships in Shanghai, she took gold in the 200 free (1:54.94). She failed to defend her 200 free title at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, beaten by teammate Pang JiayingPang Jiaying
Pang Jiaying is a female Chinese freestyle swimmer who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics. Pang is one of the best Chinese women in middle and long-distance freestyle swimming....
(1:59.26 to 2:00.73).
2007 World Aquatic Championships
Yang Yu took part in the 2007 World Aquatic Championships in Melbourne2007 World Aquatics Championships
The 2007 World Aquatics Championships or the XII FINA World Championships were held in Melbourne, Australia from 17 March to 1 April 2007...
. She did not progress beyond the heat stage in the Women's 200 m freestyle, finishing 18th. She was also a member of the China's 4 x 200 m freestyle relay (which barely missed the final, placing 9th in the heats) and the 4 x 100 m freestyle relay which ranked seventh.
Notable Achievements
On January 18, 2004 she broke Susie O'Neill's world record in the women's short courseShort course
In Swimming, the term Short Course is used to identify a pool that is 25 metres in length. The term is also often included in meet names when conducted in a short course pool...
200 butterfly during a World Cup meet
2003–2004 FINA Swimming World Cup
The 2003-2004 FINA World Cup was a series of eight , short course meets organized by FINA and held at eight different international locations...
in Berlin, Germany, clocking a time of 2:04.04.