Han An-Chi Breaks 17-Year-Old National Record in Women's 200m Individual Medley, Eyes Medal at Nagoya Asian Games

(CNA reporter Chen Jung-shen, Taipei, June 15) Taiwan-American swimmer Han An-Chi won the gold medal in the women's 200-meter individual medley final at today's Zhongzheng Cup Swimming Competition with a time of 2 minutes and 11.72 seconds, breaking a national record that had stood for 17 years. Her next goal is to reach the podium at the Nagoya Asian Games.

The 115th National Zhongzheng Cup Swimming Championships served as the final opportunity to qualify for the Nagoya Asian Games. On the last day of the event, Han An-Chi competed in the 200-meter individual medley, finishing with a time of 2:11.72. This performance surpassed the previous national record of 2:12.55 set by Cheng Wan-jung at the 2009 Asian Championships. Combined with her earlier national records in the 100m and 200m butterfly events, Han broke three national records at this year's Zhongzheng Cup, making her the standout athlete of the competition.

After the race, Han told CNA reporters she felt her current condition was "quite good." She revealed that during her training in the U.S., she specifically asked her coach to focus more on butterfly, a stroke she previously feared. The strategy paid off, especially in her signature event, the 200m individual medley, where she had seen little improvement since the Paris Olympics. She expressed great joy at breaking her personal limits once again.

Returning to compete in Taiwan for the first time in eight months since the National Games, Han said she was excited inside. For the races, she focused on giving her all and swimming freely without overthinking. She was thrilled to break national records in three events but remained "bothered" by her performance in the 200m freestyle, stating, "I need to work on that when I return."

Notably, Han has now met the qualification standards for six events at the Nagoya Asian Games. She will return to the U.S. for further training and consult with her coach to finalize her competition schedule. Her goal is to win a medal for Taiwan's women's swimming team—the first in 16 years. "I might focus more on the individual medley and hope to bring glory to Taiwan by standing on the Asian Games podium," she said. (Edited by Chen Jen-hua) 1150615

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