Role model

Wang's perseverance and passion have influenced the team's younger generation of swimmers, who consider him a role model.

"Talking about big brother Shun, the words that come to my mind are 'sunshine' and 'passion'. I could never forget the first time I met him 10 years ago when I was 13. He was just standing in front of the gate and being very considerate, asking me if I wanted to go to the canteen with him," He Junyi, who represented China in the men's 4x100m medley relay at the Tokyo Games, told China Daily.

"He has always been my role model, and I have witnessed his hard work and effort throughout the years. When I feel tired, I just think about him. He's already a veteran and to this day he's still trying that hard. So I don't have any excuses to not keep moving forward."

Not many swimmers of Wang's age could endure the rigorous training sessions that keep him competitive. He reckons it's his pure love of the sport that keeps him going.

"For me, actually, I would be happy if I could stay in the pool for hours every day. If I stay on land for a day and do not swim at all, I feel like something's missing. Swimming has become a vital part of my life," said Wang.

"And swimming brings me self-discipline. I have kept my routine and good habits for many years. For instance, I force myself to put down my smartphone after 10:30 pm to sleep no matter what.

"Or, if I get sloppy during training, I remind myself of all the setbacks I've had. I tell myself, 'If you don't want to suffer those again, you'd better keep trying.'"