No rest for the best

In a thrilling climax to the evening's events, the women's 4x100m freestyle relay final witnessed an outstanding performance from the Chinese team, comprising Zhang, Li Bingjie, Liu Yaxin, and Luo Youyang.

With an impressive time of 3:37.51, they not only shattered the FISU record but also secured the first gold medal for the Chinese swimming team at the Chengdu games. Italy came second (3:38.81), with Japan third (3:41.83).

Despite barely having any rest from her Fukuoka campaign, Zhang appeared to be largely unaffected by her exertions. "I feel like I'm still competing at the same level as the world championships, perhaps because the time between events was relatively short, and my muscles retained their training memory," she said.

With two golds, one silver and two bronze at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Zhang signed up for nine events at the Chengdu games, comprising four individual events and five relays, a testament to her phenomenal ambition and stamina.

"I hope to win all the gold medals in the individual events and work together with my teammates for more medals in the relay races," she said.

She said she was treating the Chengdu games as an opportunity to practice as she aims to improve the record she set at the worlds at next month's Hangzhou Asian Games.

"I will participate in many events in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games next year, and I hope I'll get used to competing in multiple events at tightly scheduled international competitions," she said.

A huge panda fan, it was no surprise to see Zhang proudly displaying panda-themed accessories on her clothes as she emerged from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on Tuesday morning.

Even when the competition began, she continued to showcase her affection for the national treasure, which is the mascot for the games in the form of the cute and cuddly figure named Rongbao.

During the morning heats, she donned a swim cap adorned with panda elements. Later, in the evening's 50m butterfly semifinals, she wore a swimsuit inspired by Chengdu's adorable real-life giant panda Hua Hua.

"It's my favorite racing attire," Zhang said. "Giant pandas are incredibly cute, and I really hope to visit Hua Hua and take a photo together."

Also a fan of spicy food, Zhang added that she was raring to try Chengdu's signature hotpot after the competition.