Ning Zetao ( or Níng Zétāo; or ; born 6 March 1993) is a Chinese former competitive swimmer. Specializing in the freestyle, he won a gold medal in the 100 metre freestyle at the 2015 World Championships. At the 2014 Asian Games, he won gold medals in the 50 metre freestyle, 4 × 100 metre medley relay, 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, and 100 metre freestyle, breaking the Asian records in the latter two events. Ning also swam for China at the 2016 Summer Olympics, but failed to proceed to any final at the meet.
On March 6, 2019, Ning announced his retirement from competitive swimming through his Weibo account, on his 26th birthday.
Early life Ning Zetao was born in Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan. He is the only child of Ning Feng () and Liu Wenhong ().http://epaper.ynet.com/html/2015-08/10/content_148276.htm?div=-1 Retrieved 2017-01-11 Ning's father, Ning Feng, served four years in the air force reserve prior to working for a state broadcasting company.“After Winning 100 m, Ning Zetao Wins 50 m Free”. Jinbao News, Sep 11, 2013. http://www.jinbw.com.cn/jinbw/xwzx/tyxw/201309119920.htm . Retrieved Feb 24, 2015. His mother, Liu Wenhong,PLA Daily: "Flying Fish, Life of Army Swimmer Ning Zetao" Oct 12, 2014. http://military.workercn.cn/279/201410/12/141012072936366.shtml . Retrieved Feb, 28 2015. served in the Chinese People's Armed Police Force. Both of his grandfathers also served in the Chinese military. China CCTV 7 Nov 23, 2014 Interview.
Ning started swimming at age 8. Before then, he was even afraid of washing his hair.关于男神宁泽涛你必须知道这13件事 Retrieved 2016-12-17 His parents took him to a swimming school to help him overcome his fear of water and to improve his physical health. Local coach Guo Hongyan noticed Ning's quick grasp on learning different strokes and techniques. She persuaded Ning's parents to have him trained under her. At age 11, Ning Zetao became a member of Henan provincial swimming team. At age 14, Ning was accepted to the PLA Navy's swimming team. He started training under Ye Jin, a well-known coach who remains his coach today. Initially, he trained for the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley races. Because he suffered from chronic bone calcification on his right knee, he switched from individual medley to sprint freestyle.“Ning Zetao”. LifeWeeks Magazine. Jan 7, 2015. http://news.hexun.com/2015-01-07/172121802.html. Retrieved Feb 24, 2015.
Following his family's military background, Ning served as a lieutenant in the Chinese Navy.
Ning cites Alexander Popov as his role model.偶像波波夫为宁泽涛颁奖 泳坛新老男神传承 Retrieved 2016-08-27狂欢过后，请一切如常 Retrieved 2016-12-17
On March 6, 2019, on his 26th birthday, Ning announced his retirement from competitive swimming on his Weibo. He has stated in interviews that he wishes to study for two years after retirement before deciding what to do for his career. Ning has insisted that he would not be entering the entertainment industry despite huge speculation and interest.
Career
October 2009 At age 16, Ning competed in the 11th Chinese National Games, Shandong, China. He advanced to the 400-meter medley final and finished in 8th place.“Zhengzhou Fellow, Ning Zetao, From Flying Fish to Idol”. Zhengzhou Evening Newspaper Digital Edition. Sep 26, 2014. http://zzwb.zynews.com/html/2014-09/26/content_604108.htm. Retrieved Feb 27, 2015.
April 2011 Ning competed in the Chinese National Swimming Championships, Wuhan, Hubei, China. This was his first time competing in a sprint freestyle event. He advanced to the 100-meter free final and finished 4th with a time of 50.05. Lv Zhiwu from Team Zhejiang finished in first place with a time of 49.46.“2011 04 04 China National Swimming Championship” clips from Ning Zetao Media Resources. http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/RLu4wtMQfP0/. Retrieved Feb 27, 2015.
April 2013 Ning defeated two-time defending champion Lv Zhiwu at the Chinese National Swimming Championships, Zhengzhou, Henan, China, winning his first national championship in the 100-meter free in his hometown, setting the new national record with a time of 48.60 on April 5, 2013. He also won first place in the 50-meter free with a record time of 22.41 on April 7, 2013.“2013 Chinese National Swimming Championships Results”. 163 Sports, Apr 8, 2013. http://sports.sohu.com/20130408/n372015539_6.shtml. Retrieved Feb 24, 2015. This event marked the beginning of his dominance in sprint freestyle in China.
September 2013 He broke his own record time in the 100-meter free at the 12th Chinese National Games, Shenyang, Liaoning, China, establishing a new Asian record at 48.27 on September 8; the very next day, he continued his record-breaking performance, setting a new Asian record for the 50-meter free at 21.91.“Flying Fish: Ning, the Hope for China’s Sprinter”. China People Daily oversea edition. Sep 13, 2013. http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2013-09/13/content_1298136.htm. Retrieved Feb 24, 2015.
October 2013 In the East Asian Games, Tianjin, China, Ning placed first in both the 100-meter free with a time of 48.41, and the 50-meter free with a time of 22.20 on October 13 and 14, respectively. He also won silver in the 4 × 100-meter free relay.Swimming Competition Official Results from 6th East Asia Games official website. . Retrieved Feb 24, 2015. His record-breaking streak earned him a spot in Chinese national swimming team.“Zhengzhou Fellow, Ning Zetao, From Flying Fish to Idol”. Zhengzhou Evening Newspaper Digital Edition. Sep 26, 2014. http://zzwb.zynews.com/html/2014-09/26/content_604108.htm. Retrieved Feb 27, 2015.
At the Chinese National Swimming Championships, Huangshan, Anhui, China on October 26, Ning won a gold medal in 50-meter butterfly with a time of 24.13. Due to a fever, however, he did not compete in any other events.“Champions” ChinaDaily. Oct 28, 2013. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqgj/jryw/2013-10-28/content_10436265.html. Retrieved Feb 24, 2015.
June 2014 Competing for the Chinese Liberation Army at the 45th CISM World Military Swimming & Lifesaving Championships, Tenero, Switzerland, Ning earned a gold medal in the 100-meter free, setting a new CISM world record at 48.48. He won another gold in the men's 50-meter free.“CISM World Military Swimming Result”. Xinhua News. June 15, 2014. . Retrieved Feb 24, 2015. He was not in his best physical state at the games due to a wrist injury sustained a few months prior to the competition.Chinese CCTV 5 Sports Morning News. May 24, 2014. http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/KvSe92xFJZM/. Retrieved Mar 6, 2015.
September 2014
The 17th Asian Games, in Incheon, South Korea, was the first major championship outside China he competed in. September 23, Ning earned his first gold in the 50-meter free in an Asian Games with a time of 21.95. On September 25, he beat South Korea's Park Tae-hwan and Japan's Shioura Shinri setting the new Asian record time of 47.70 in the 100-meter free; he was the first Asian swimmer to break the 48-second barrier. On September 24, in the men's 4 × 100-meter free relay, teamed with Yu Hexin, Lin Yongqing, Sun Yang, Ning swam the fourth leg and ensured China finished in first place and set a new Asian record with a time of 3:13.47. On September 26, in the men's 4 × 100-meter medley relay, with Xu Jiayu, Li Xiang, Li Zhuhao, swimming the fourth leg, Ning overtook strong rival, Japan's Shioura Shinri in the last 50 meters and helped China win gold in a time of 3:31:37.Incheon Asian Games Official Results. https://www.incheon2014ag.org/Sports/SW/Result?RSC=SWM010101&lang=en . Retrieved on Feb 24, 2015.
October 2014 Continuing his dominance in the freestyle sprints at the Chinese National Swimming Championships, Huangshan, Anhui, China, Ning broke his previous Incheon Asian record of 47.70 in the 100-meter free with a new time of 47.65 on October 17.“Ning Breaks Asian Record Again in 100 m free”. Xinhua News. Oct 17, 2014. . Retrieved on Feb 24, 2015. He also won a silver medal in the 50-meter butterfly with a time of 23.65.“Ning Wins Silver in 50-meter Butterfly”: EastDay Sports. Oct 16, 2014.http://sports.eastday.com/gd/2014/1016/2001879092.html. Retrieved Feb 24, 2015. Due to food poisoning, he did not compete in the 50-meter free event."20 Swimmers out of the Competition due to Illness Caused by Food Poison". YuQing News. Oct 19, 2014. http://www.yuqinge.com/mszx/1413697763199520.html. Retrieved Feb 28, 2015.
At the 2014 FINA Swimming World Cup in Beijing, Yu Hexin, Suo Ran, Lu Ying, with Ning swam the fourth leg in the mixed 4 × 50-meter medley relay, finished in first place with a time of 1:40.10. In the 50-meter free final, he placed in third with a time of 21.35. Chad le Clos of South Africa won first place with a time of 21.28.2014 FINA World Swimming Championship (25m)-Beijing Reporting from Chinese Swimming Association, October 26, 2014. http://www.swimming.org.cn/gnxw/2014-10-26/451542.html. Retrieved Feb 28, 2015
December 2014 At the 2014 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Doha, again with Ning swimming the final leg in the mixed 4 × 50-meter medley relay, China finished in the 6th place, but Ning recorded a split-time of 20.59. In the men's 4 × 100-meter free relay heats, he swam the second leg with a time of 46.13, putting China in 10th place overall. In the 50-meter free heat, he reached a personal best of 21.26 and finished in 12th place in the semi-final with a time of 21.37.2014 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) – DOHA Official Results from FINA.ORG. http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4907&Itemid=1793. Retrieved Feb 28, 2015. Due to a wrist injury, he did not compete in the 100-meter free final.
April 2015 The Chinese National Swimming Championships, Baoji, Shaanxi, China, served as Chinese swimmers' qualifying selection for the 16th FINA World Aquatics Championships held in Kazan, Russia. From April 12 to April 15, Ning competed in two events: 100-meter freestyle and 50-meter freestyle. In the 100-meter freestyle semifinal, he finished first with a time of 48.34. In the final, he recorded a time of 48.36 and a reaction time of 0.72 winning the first place. Yu Hexin finished 2nd with a time of 49.11.Swimming Stats Lookup: Chinese National Swimming Organization Official Website http://www.swimming.org.cn/gnxw/index.html; http://www.swimat.com:8080/SRS/MatchQuery; Retrieved Apr 13, 2015. Both swimmers meet the 16th FINA 100-meter freestyle Level A qualifying time of 49.39.16th FINA Swimming Qualifying Time Standard: http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4366&Itemid=1616; Retrieved April 15, 2015. In the 50-meter freestyle semifinal, Ning recorded a time of 22.31 with reaction time of 0.62; in the final, he finished in first place with a time of 22.17 and a reaction time of 0.72. Again, Yu Hexin finished in the 2nd place with a time of 22.47. Ning has met 16th FINA’S Level A qualifying time of 22.25 for this event. In an interview with CCTV5 Sports, Ning confirmed that he had not fully recovered from his wrist injury and was hoping to undergo more effective treatment in preparation for the upcoming World Championships. He also expressed in this interview his desire to train overseas.CCTV 5 Sports Channel April 15 Interview: http://tv.cntv.cn/video/VSET100150754667/6957a2a8a0f947cb81fc8fcb46b3ac33, Retrieved April 15, 2015
July 24, 2015, to August 9, 2015