Water Cube hosts inaugural youth swimming championship

The inaugural Water Cube Youth Swimming Championship kicked off at Beijing's National Aquatics Center on Dec. 6, bringing together nearly 1,600 young swimmers from 74 clubs nationwide for this new flagship event in the dual-Olympic venue.

With a format modeled on major international competitions, the event aims to enhance both competitiveness and spectator experience. It is fast becoming a major event in the youth swimming calendar. The event's Olympic-standard conditions offer a strong platform to test young athletes' training progress, race strategy, endurance, and mental toughness.

According to the organizers, the championship fills a longstanding gap in the annual calendar, giving young athletes a chance to race after nearly ten months without major competition. To ensure the fair and smooth execution of races, the championship was overseen by a team of international-, national- and municipal-level referees. Organizers also adjusted the pool temperature to create optimal conditions for both athletes and spectators.

The event drew strong support from China's swimming community, with coaches praising both the venue and the professional standards. Olympic champion Zhang Yufei was in attendance. Young athletes received signed photos and encouragement. Coaches from youth swimming clubs in Beijing and Nanjing noted that competing in an Olympic facility gives swimmers valuable experience. It also serves as a platform to exchange techniques, helping raise overall performance.

The championship also introduced two new incentives: the individual points prize and the team points award, with total prize money nearing 80,000 yuan. The individual prizes recognize the top three male and female swimmers in each age category, while the team award honors the top eight clubs participating across the entire Water Cube youth swimming series from the year.

The successful debut of the championship marks an important step for the venue in promoting youth swimming and developing a stronger, multi-tiered competition system. By offering a platform for emerging talent, it is helping to nurture the next generation of swimmers and enhance the competition skills of youth swimming across the nation.