Liu Yaxin (left), along with teammates Yang Junxuan, Li Bingjie, and Ge Chutong, wins a bronze medal in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay at the Paris Olympics. [Photo/IC]
In the early hours of Aug 2, Beijing time, Wenzhou athlete Liu Yaxin made history in the women's 4×200m freestyle relay by winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Liu, swimming the fourth leg, teamed up with Yang Junxuan, Li Bingjie, and Ge Chutong to finish with a time of 7 minutes and 42.34 seconds.
This achievement marks Liu's first Olympic podium finish in her three Olympic appearances. It is also the third medal for Wenzhou athletes at the Paris Olympics and the first Olympic medal in the history of Wenzhou women's swimming.
Born on June 16, 1999, in Longquan, Lishui, Liu moved to Wenzhou with her parents when she was just over a month old. She grew up, studied, and trained in swimming in Wenzhou before being selected for the provincial and national teams.
Liu began swimming in 2005 at the age of six. Her talent quickly caught the attention of her coaches, and she was selected by Wenzhou Sports School swimming coach Wu Guozhong.
At this year's Olympics, Liu participated in the women's 400m freestyle preliminaries, ranking 10th, and withdrew from the women's 200m backstroke. With the relay bronze medal, Liu concludes her third Olympic journey.
