In Shaoxing at the Chinese nationals, Olympic silver medallist over 400m free, Zhang Lin, sped to a China record of 1:45.83 in the 200m. That's 1.70sec inside his own previous national standard, Xinhua reported. That counts back from the 1:47.53 that was his best in a solo event, however it does not recognise the 1:46.13 in which he led off the China 4x200m free relay at the Beijing Olympic Games. Still, not hard to see where the 400m is headed in time for Rome: could Thorpey's remaining monument topple so soon? No idea at this point what Zhang was wearing - it was a fast suit, of course. He is also working with Grant Hackett mentor Denis Cotterell, so he'll be doing all the right can of work to make him as tough and smart as they come.

Sun Yang, of Zhejiang, and Jiang Haiqi, of Shanghai, followed the champion home in Shaoxing but the drive will be all the greater in Italy come July. Zhang, 22, told Xinhua: "I had an ankle operation last November. I'm now not at my peak form though my 400m and 200m free all placed top on the world rankings. However, the ranking does not mean I'm the fastest." Meaning, early days yet.

In the women's 100m backstroke, Zhao Jing stormed to a 59.62 victory to rise to the top of the 2009 world rankings. In her wake were Chen Yanyan, of Guangdong, on 1:00.21, and Gao Chang, of Shandong, on 1:00.75. Zhao, who raced at a home Olympics in the medley relay, highlighted where her next improvement will come from: "I need to improve my turn technique since I had a terrible turn in the 50m mark."

Former world record holder Qi Hui, 24 and of the Chinese Navy team, clocked a best time of 1:06.85 in the 100m breaststroke, the time just 0.01sec shy of the China record held by 2004 Olympic champion Luo Xuejuan. Ji Liping, of Shanghai, and Chen Huijia, of Zhejiang, followed on in 1:07.29 and 1:07.47. The men's 100m backstroke title went to Cheng Feiyi, of Liaoning, in 54.99.

Tomorrow, Olympic champion Liu Zige and Olympic silver medallist Jiao Liuyang clash in the 200m 'fly.