Childhood friends Yan Zibei and Sun Jiajun spurring each other on to greater heights on international stage

Chinese swimming stars Sun Jiajun and Yan Zibei are rivals in the pool, but brothers on the land. Both from Hubei province, the pair have trained together since childhood, and now find themselves chasing their dreams in tandem on the national team.

The breaststroke specialists have medals in their sights at the forthcoming Hangzhou Asian Games and next year's Paris Olympics.

"I just hope to win gold medals at this year's Asian Games, and, in terms of the Paris Olympics, my goal is to reach the podium," Sun told China Daily online show On Your Marks before leaving for World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, where the swimming events begin on July 23.

Yan is equally single-minded about the task at hand. "I have only five words: Go all out to win," said Yan, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics.

At 28, Yan is considered a veteran in the pool. He has served Team China admirably through the years, breaking several Asian breaststroke records. With age no longer on his side, Yan's ability to stick around at elite level for so long is something of a rarity in the sport.

During a national meet in Hangzhou in May, Yan fended off younger rivals to win a silver and a bronze medal, helping him once again make Team China's roster for the world championships.

If Yan is a model of consistency, the 22-year-old Sun is an athlete on the rise, refreshing the Asian 50m breaststroke record with a time of 26.61 sec at May's Hangzhou meet.

"When we finished the men's 50m breaststroke final in Hangzhou, I just saw a line on the results board that was glinting. I took off my goggles and saw Sun Jiajun had broken the Asian record," recalled Yan.

"At the time I was thrilled. I felt like I refreshed the record myself. We have been swimming together for a long time, so I'm always happy when he wins something."

Sun says the friend he refers to as "captain Yan" has spurred him on through the years.

"I actually initially didn't realize that I broke the record at the nationals. All I did was charge forward as fast as possible. Captain Yan is always faster than me, and our national teammate Qin Haiyang is also very fast," said Sun, who was also called up to the national team for this month's worlds in Fukuoka.

"We are rivals in the pool, but on the land we are very good friends. I respect captain Yan a lot. I have been training with him since I was a little boy. He's been helping me in training and he also helps me take care of my life."

Yan Zibei (left) and Sun Jiajun pose on the podium after impressing at a national meet in Hangzhou in May. The two are tipped for glory at next year’s Paris Olympics. Provided to China Daily

Special bond

Yan and Sun's bond was forged during their days in the Hubei provincial team. When Sun earned his first call-up aged 12, Yan was already an established member of the squad — hence "captain Yan", which has stuck ever since.

"I was super nervous on my first day with the provincial team. I knew no one there and they were all bigger and older than me. I saw captain Yan the first day, and, honestly speaking, I dared not to speak a word to him," recalled Sun.

"But later on, when I got to know him more, I realized that he was super nice to all the young swimmers. Well, he can be serious too. When I was young, sometimes I would pretend to go to the bathroom for a very long time to avoid training. In those cases, our coach would send captain Yan to find me and take me back to the pool."

Sun has proven himself as a key addition to the squad, according to Yan, who praised the youngster for his focus and determination in the pool.

"I just had that feeling that he has massive ambition since he was a boy," Yan added.

Sun made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Yan won a silver in the mixed 4x100m medley relay in the Japanese capital, and sped to China's best Olympic result in the men's 100m breaststroke, finishing sixth.

But for both swimmers, the most memorable moment was not in the pool.

"What touched me the most was not the competitions in Tokyo. The most unforgettable moment was my birthday on Aug 1 when we were both in the Olympic village," recalled Sun.

"That night when captain Yan celebrated my birthday with me. We had nothing there, and he borrowed a lighter from the staff in the Olympic village, and used it as a birthday candle for me to make wishes. So I just hope that at the Paris Olympics next year, we can still be there competing together. "

Sun Jiajun, one of Team China’s most exciting young prospects in the pool, is expected to contend for medals at the forthcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Provided to China Daily

Different personalities

Since childhood, coach Zheng Shan has been a key figure in the two swimmers' development.

"Speaking of those two kids, it's quite interesting. Yan Zibei had just graduated from the third grade and then came here in July when he was just 9. He was dark-skinned, thin and tall. Sun Jiajun came to our team after six grade when he was light-skinned and a little chubby," recalled coach Zheng.

"They had different personalities, but they were both very promising young kids with great potential."

Zheng said that since helping the two athletes become training partners, she has been urging her two apprentices to help and respect each other, and to always strive to make progress together.

"I told Sun that you should always wish your captain Yan the best, and I told Yan the same thing. That's how you two can make progress together. We are a team, and even a family. I often cite them as examples to teach the other swimmers in my team," Zheng added.

From Yan and Sun's perspective, Zheng is more like a maternal figure than a coach.

Yan revealed that coach Zheng had persuaded him to stick with swimming during a period when he doubted his commitment.

"I was still at elementary school, so I could not decide if I should stay in the team or stick with regular school life. Each summer or winter vacation, I would rush back home and refuse to return. It was coach Zheng who called me relentlessly and asked me back," said Yan.

The coach also proved pivotal for Sun, who had to undergo knee surgery in 2019.

"I just wanted Yan to maintain his passion and dreams in swimming, even if he's now already a veteran. And for Sun, he has big ambitions now. I just hope he can achieve all of his dreams. I have only the best wishes for them. I always believed their hard work would pay off," said Zheng.

shifutian@chinadaily.com.cn