An awards ceremony for the men's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 National Swimming Championships is held on April 23. [Photo/Grassland Media]

Inner Mongolian athlete Niu Guangsheng clinched victory in the men's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 National Swimming Championships on April 23. With a time of 1 minute 55.46 seconds, Niu has met the Olympic A standard and earned a spot at the Paris Olympics.

This marks the first time that an Inner Mongolian athlete has secured an Olympic qualification in swimming.

As the most prestigious domestic swimming event of the year, the 2024 National Swimming Championships aligns with the schedule of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

According to information released by the Swimming Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sports in China, the selection criteria for swimming events of the 2024 Paris Olympics include a review of athletic performances in this event, the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships, and the 2024 Doha World Championships.

Consequently, the competition at this event was fierce, with top-tier athletes such as Zhang Yufei, Qin Haiyang, Wang Shun, Ye Shiwen, Xu Jiayu, Pan Zhanle, and Li Bingjie all vying for victory.