Zhang Lin (swimmer)
Encyclopedia
Zhang Lin is a Chinese
swimmer specializing in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle
events. He is China's most successful male swimmer.
Zhang, who began swimming at six, is China's fastest freestyle swimmer. He was selected for the national team in 2002. At the 2003 World Aquatics Championships
, he was the only Chinese male swimmer to reach the individual finals, finishing in eighth place. In 2005, he broke China's 400 freestyle record at the National Games, and was crowned 200 and 1,500 freestyle champion.
Zhang Lin won a silver medal in the men's 400 meter freestyle at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing with a time of 3:42.44, only 0.58 seconds behind gold medalist South Korean Park Tae-Hwan
, and making him at the time the third fastest 400 meter freestyler in history (and setting a Chinese Record in the process). Zhang's silver is the best Olympic swimming finish ever by a Chinese male swimmer.
At 2009 World Aquatics Championships
in Rome, Zhang won a bronze medal in the men's 400 meter freestyle and a gold medal in the men's 800 meter freestyle (7:32.12); the gold medal finish was a world record and the first time ever by a Chinese male in a world swimming competition in the past 73 years.
Zhang is coached by Zhang Yadong and Chen Yinghong. He has also been coached by Australian Denis Cotterell since late 2007, who is the former coach of distance champion Grant Hackett
. In the fall of 2011, he trained with Dave Salo at the Trojan Swim Club for a 52-day training camp.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
swimmer specializing in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
events. He is China's most successful male swimmer.
Zhang, who began swimming at six, is China's fastest freestyle swimmer. He was selected for the national team in 2002. At the 2003 World Aquatics Championships
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....
, he was the only Chinese male swimmer to reach the individual finals, finishing in eighth place. In 2005, he broke China's 400 freestyle record at the National Games, and was crowned 200 and 1,500 freestyle champion.
Zhang Lin won a silver medal in the men's 400 meter freestyle 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...
in Beijing with a time of 3:42.44, only 0.58 seconds behind gold medalist South Korean Park Tae-Hwan
Park Tae-hwan
Park Tae-hwan is a South Korean swimmer. He is a member of the South Korean national swimming team, based in Taereung, Seoul. He won a gold medal in the 400 meter freestyle and a silver in the 200 meter freestyle events at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
, and making him at the time the third fastest 400 meter freestyler in history (and setting a Chinese Record in the process). Zhang's silver is the best Olympic swimming finish ever by a Chinese male swimmer.
At 2009 World Aquatics Championships
2009 World Aquatics Championships
The 2009 World Aquatics Championships or the XIII FINA World Championships were celebrated in Rome, Italy in 2009 from July 17 to August 2. The 2009 Championships featured competition in all 5 aquatics disciplines: diving, swimming, open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.Rome won...
in Rome, Zhang won a bronze medal in the men's 400 meter freestyle and a gold medal in the men's 800 meter freestyle (7:32.12); the gold medal finish was a world record and the first time ever by a Chinese male in a world swimming competition in the past 73 years.
Zhang is coached by Zhang Yadong and Chen Yinghong. He has also been coached by Australian Denis Cotterell since late 2007, who is the former coach of distance champion Grant Hackett
Grant Hackett
Grant Hackett OAM is an Australian former swimmer most famous for winning the men's 1500 metres freestyle race at both the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This achievement has led him to be regarded as one of the greatest distance swimmers in history...
. In the fall of 2011, he trained with Dave Salo at the Trojan Swim Club for a 52-day training camp.
Major achievements
- 2005 World Championships - 6th 1500m freestyle;
- 2005 National Games - 1st 200m/400m/1500m freestyle;
- 2007 World Championships - 6th 200m freestyle;
- 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 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...
- 2nd (Silver Medalist) 400m freestyle; - 2009 World Aquatics Championships2009 World Aquatics ChampionshipsThe 2009 World Aquatics Championships or the XIII FINA World Championships were celebrated in Rome, Italy in 2009 from July 17 to August 2. The 2009 Championships featured competition in all 5 aquatics disciplines: diving, swimming, open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.Rome won...
- 3rd (Bronze Medalist) 400m freestyle; 3:41,35 - 2009 World Aquatics Championships2009 World Aquatics ChampionshipsThe 2009 World Aquatics Championships or the XIII FINA World Championships were celebrated in Rome, Italy in 2009 from July 17 to August 2. The 2009 Championships featured competition in all 5 aquatics disciplines: diving, swimming, open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.Rome won...
- 1st (Gold Medalist) 800m freestyle; World Record 7:32,12