Ning Zetao facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ning Zetao

Ning Zetao (right) in Kazan 2015
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Baozi (包子)
Born	(1993-03-06) 6 March 1993 (age 32) Zhengzhou, Henan, China
Height	1.91 m
Weight	81 kg
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	PLA Navy team
Medal record Men's swimming Representing China World Championships (LC) Gold 2015 Kazan 100 m freestyle Asian Games Gold 2014 Incheon 50 m freestyle Gold 2014 Incheon 100 m freestyle Gold 2014 Incheon 4×100 m freestyle Gold 2014 Incheon 4×100 m medley

Ning Zetao (Chinese: 宁泽涛; pinyin: Nìng Zétāo or Níng Zétāo; born March 6, 1993) is a former competitive swimmer from China. He is famous for his skills in freestyle races. Ning Zetao won a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the 2015 World Championships.

At the 2014 Asian Games, he won four gold medals. These were in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay, and 4 × 100-meter medley relay. He even broke Asian records in two of these events. Ning Zetao also swam for China at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He announced his retirement from swimming on his 26th birthday, March 6, 2019.

Early Life and Training

Ning Zetao was born in Zhengzhou, China. He is the only child of Ning Feng and Liu Wenhong. His parents and grandfathers all served in the Chinese military.

Ning started swimming when he was 8 years old. Before that, he was even scared of washing his hair! His parents sent him to swimming school to help him get over his fear of water. A local coach, Guo Hongyan, saw how quickly Ning learned. She convinced his parents to let her train him.

At age 11, Ning Zetao joined the Henan provincial swimming team. When he was 14, he was accepted into the PLA Navy's swimming team. He began training with Ye Jin, a well-known coach. Ning first trained for longer races, but a knee problem made him switch to shorter sprint freestyle races.

Following his family's background, Ning also served as a lieutenant in the Chinese Navy. He looks up to the famous swimmer Alexander Popov. After retiring, Ning said he wants to study for two years before deciding on his next career.

Swimming Career Highlights

Starting His Journey: 2009-2013

Ning Zetao first competed in the 11th Chinese National Games in 2009. He reached the final in the 400-meter medley. In 2011, he competed in his first sprint freestyle event. He finished 4th in the 100-meter freestyle at the Chinese National Swimming Championships.

In April 2013, Ning won his first national championship in the 100-meter freestyle. He set a new national record with a time of 48.60 seconds. He also won the 50-meter freestyle. This was the start of his success in sprint freestyle in China.

Later in 2013, at the 12th Chinese National Games, he broke his own records. He set new Asian records for both the 100-meter freestyle (48.27 seconds) and the 50-meter freestyle (21.91 seconds). These amazing performances earned him a spot on the Chinese national swimming team. He also won gold medals in both events at the East Asian Games.

International Success: 2014 Asian Games

Ning Zetao and his teammates at the 2014 Asian Games.

The 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, was Ning's first big international competition. He won his first gold medal there in the 50-meter freestyle. On September 25, he made history by setting a new Asian record of 47.70 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle. He was the first Asian swimmer to swim under 48 seconds!

Ning also helped China win gold in two relay events. In the 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay, he swam the last part, helping China set a new Asian record. In the 4 × 100-meter medley relay, he swam the final leg and helped China win another gold.

After the Asian Games, Ning continued to break records. In October 2014, he broke his own 100-meter freestyle Asian record again, with a time of 47.65 seconds.

World Championships Victory: 2015 Kazan

The Chinese National Swimming Championships in April 2015 were important for qualifying for the World Championships. Ning Zetao won both the 100-meter and 50-meter freestyle events, qualifying for the World Championships.

At the 16th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, Ning made history. On August 6, 2015, he won the gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle. His time was 47.84 seconds. This was a huge achievement because no Asian swimmer had ever won a medal or even reached the final in this event at the World Championships before. The legendary swimmer Alexander Popov, who Ning admired, presented him with the gold medal.

Olympic Games: 2016 Rio

The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio was Ning Zetao's first time competing in the Olympics. He finished 30th in the 50-meter freestyle and 12th in the 100-meter freestyle. In the relay races, his team was unfortunately disqualified due to false starts by teammates.

A Challenge in His Career

In April 2011, when Ning was 18, he faced a challenge. A test showed a banned substance, which led to him being suspended from swimming for one year. He tried to appeal the decision, but the ban remained.

Personal Best Times

Here are Ning Zetao's best times in long course swimming:

Key: AS = Asian Record, NR = National Record

Awards and Endorsements

Ning Zetao has received several awards for his achievements. He won the CCTV Sports Award for Best Male Athlete in both 2014 and 2015. These awards recognized his great success in sprint freestyle swimming.

Because of his popularity, Ning Zetao became a spokesperson for many well-known brands. These include Skullcandy, FitBit, Gillette, De Beers, Alexander Wang, and Adidas. He also appeared in advertisements with other members of the Chinese National Swimming Team.

See also

In Spanish: Ning Zetao para niños