IN the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay final at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Saturday, Shenzhen-born swimmer Chen Jun’er, along with teammates Wang Haoyu, Ji Xinjie, and Pan Zhanle, finished with a time of 3:11.28, earning fourth place. Chen, born in Shenzhen in 2004, showed a passion for swimming from a young age. By 7, he had already exhibited a talent for the sport. At 9, he joined the Shenzhen Municipal Sports Team, beginning his professional training. Although only 20 years old, Chen has garnered numerous medals. In the 2023 National Swimming Championships, he broke a national record in the men’s 200m butterfly. Following that, he won gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay and the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay at the Chengdu FISU World University Games in 2023, breaking the event records. He also claimed gold in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, setting a new Asian record. Chen’s outstanding performance earned him a place in this year’s Olympics, marking his first appearance at the Games. On Saturday, Chen, along with his teammates, secured first place with a time of 3:11.62, successfully advancing to the final. (Liu Yangyang) | 