With good looks, a perfect figure, and a total of four gold medals, 21-year-old athlete Ning Zetao easily proved himself to be a rising star during the 17th Asian Games, which is being held in Incheon, South Korea from Sept 19 to Oct 4.

9月19日至10月4日在韩国仁川举办的第17界亚运会上，21岁的中国运动员宁泽涛以其帅气的相貌、完美的身材、以及4枚金牌的战绩轻松成为体坛新星。

Ning won four gold medals: 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, and 4x100m medley¹ relay. Most impressive was his performance in the 100m freestyle race, during which he set a new Asian record of 47.70 seconds. The Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) recognized this as the world’s third fastest performance this year.

本次亚运会上，宁泽涛连夺男子50米自由泳、100米自由泳、男子4×100米自由泳接力和男子4×100米混合泳接力四枚金牌。他在100米自由泳比赛中的表现最引人瞩目，以47.7秒的成绩刷新了亚洲纪录。此次表现在国际泳联今年的世界排名中荣登第三。

“This title is significant for Chinese swimming development,” Chen Yunpeng, the former head coach of national swimming team told Xinhua New Agency. In the past, short-distance free style swimming competitions were dominated by players from Western countries. “But Ning’s victory proves that it is possible for Chinese or even Asian swimming players to make a breakthrough in this event.”

在接受新华社采访时，前中国游泳队总教练陈运鹏说，“对中国游泳队来说，宁泽涛100米自由泳金牌是含金量是最高的一个！”在过去，短距离自由泳领域一直为西方运动员称霸。“但是，宁泽涛的胜利证明了中国人甚至亚洲游泳运动员在这一领域取得的突破。”

Ning clocked in at 46.91 seconds during the last leg of the 4x100m medley relay, vaulting² the Chinese team toward its win of the relay in 3 minutes 31.37 seconds, a new Asian Games record. Meanwhile, the athlete downplayed the fact that his time equaled the world record.

在4x100米混合泳接力中，宁泽涛在最后一棒游出了46.91秒的成绩，助中国队以总成绩3分31.37秒获得冠军，并且打破了该项目的亚洲纪录。同时，他的个人成绩也追平了世界纪录。

These achievements are not a first. In the 12th National Games of 2013, he broke the Asian record for the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle competition, proving his skills in the pool.

取得如此成就并非首次，在2013年全运会上，他就曾一举打破50米和100米自由泳亚洲纪录，夺得冠军，证明了他超凡的实力。

From Henan province, he moved to the swimming team of the People’s Liberation Navy from his provincial³ swimming team in 2007. “He is not especially talented, but he listens to the coach and learn every stroke carefully,” his previous coach Guo Hongyan told Henan Daily.

来自河南的宁泽涛曾是河南省游泳队的一员，2007年，他加入了中国人民解放军海军游泳队。在接受《河南日报》采访时，他的前教练郭红岩曾这样评价他，“从天赋上说，他不算水感特别好的孩子，但他特聪明，教练讲技术动作的时候，听得特别专心，学得很快。”

Humble⁴ and handsome

谦逊而帅气

Aside from his excellent swimming abilities, Ning is also getting attention for his cool looks. His straight nose, big eyes, masculine figure and an army background are bringing him legions of fans. Before Sept 23, his followers⁶ on Weibo numbered less than 10,000, but in just two days that number skyrocketed to 150,000. Shortly after he won the medal for the 4x100m medley relay, his follower⁵ count stood at more than 250,000.

除了超凡的游泳实力，宁泽涛帅气的外形也备受关注。挺拔的鼻梁、大大的眼睛、颇具阳刚之气的身材、以及出身军队的背景，都让宁泽涛赢得一大波粉丝。9月23日之前，他的微博粉丝数只有不到1万，但随后的短短两天，这一数字就飙升到15万。在他获得4x100m米混合泳接力冠军之后，粉丝数更是瞬间突破25万。

In the face of intensifying⁷ media attention, Ning is staying humble and disciplined. After each interview he bows and expresses gratitude⁸. He was surprised to see throngs⁹ of fans waiting to welcome him at the airport after the games.

面对媒体的聚焦，宁泽涛依旧谦逊低调、有礼有节。每次接受采访之后，他都会鞠躬表达感谢。赛后在机场等待接机的大批粉丝，则让他大感吃惊。

According to an analysis by Chen Yunpeng, Ning’s advantages stem from his height of 1.91 meters and 80-kilogram weight, which allow him to glide¹⁰ through the water with little obstruction¹¹. Ning also has coach Ye Jin, who has cultivated talents like Qi Hui, behind him. Coupled with the discipline he learned in the army, it seems nothing can stop Ning from growing into a promising¹² swimmer.

根据陈运鹏的分析，宁泽涛的优势来自于他1.91米的身高与90公斤的体重，这样的比例让他能在水中几乎没有阻力的自由穿梭。同时，他的教练叶瑾曾经带出过游泳名将齐珲。加之在军队中学会的纪律严明，似乎没有什么可以阻挡宁泽涛一片光明的“泳途”。

The Asian Games are just the beginning for Ning. There is good reason to believe he’ll continue to amaze us in the years to come.

仁川亚运会对宁泽涛而言只是一个开始。我们相信在未来的日子里他必将带来更多惊喜！