China’s teenage swimming sensation Ye Shiwen stormed to victory in the 200m medley despite claiming to be 85 percent fit at Beijing’s short-course World Cup meet on Friday.
The 16-year-old who stunned the sporting world with two gold medals in the women’s 200m and 400m individual medley at the London Olympics appears to be in top form despite only returning to the pool for less than a month after her spectacular summer.
She finished the race on 2mins 06.10 seconds, within reach of the world record of 2mins 04.6 seconds but short of her personal best, set at last year’s world championships.
“I feel good,” Ye told state media after the race, which followed a third-place finish in her heat earlier in the day.
“Although it was not my best result, which was within 2:05, it was still good.”
“I am about 85 percent of my peak form. I didn’t feel good in the morning, but the final was OK.”
“I hope I can be on my top level at the world championships in Turkey this December,” she added.
Ye was the firm favourite for the passionate home crowd at Beijing’s National Aquatics Centre, otherwise known as the Water Cube, the main aquatics venue for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos finished second on 2mins 08.22 seconds, while compatriot, third placed Katinka Hosszu, remains on course to be in line for a huge pay day with the FINA World Cup.
Hosszu moved up to $48,250 on the first day of the eight-stage competition.
The Beijing World Cup is the sixth stop of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2012 tour.
Ye will also take part in the 400m medley Saturday, the final day of the tournament.
China's Ye clinches victory in Beijing
