On November 5, the first-ever open-water marathon swimming event in the history of the National Games took place in the crystal-clear waters off Judiaosha Beach in Dapeng New District, Shenzhen.
Female swimmers competed fiercely over a 10-kilometer course in real sea conditions. Liu Yaxin from the Zhejiang team claimed the gold medal with a time of 2:11:42.9.
"The waves were quite strong, especially when swimming against the current," Liu said after the race. "Compared to indoor pool training, open-water competition is much tougher, but the view was stunning, and the hotel support was excellent."
She noted that endurance and mindset were key to success in such a long and crowded race. "I'm thrilled to win the gold for my team—it gives me great confidence for the upcoming competitions."
Author | Huang Xinying
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
