Chinese swimming world champ Ning Zetao quits at 26

China’s former 100m freestyle international champion and swimming pin-up Ning Zetao announced his retirement from the game on Wednesday, his 26th birthday. A fan favorite in China due to his ability and appearance, Ning received the 100m free world identify in 2015 and changed into a 4-time gold medallist at the Asian Games 12 months in advance. But his career has been on the slide because he hangs up his trunks with the reputation of expertise in no way fulfilled. Ning, who served a one-yr suspension after testing wonderful for clenbuterol in 2011, introduced his retirement on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter.

“Don’T be frightened of the beyond and destiny! Say correct bye to the swimming pool and blue water and restart my new existence,” Ning wrote. “Thank you, my dear enthusiasts! I want you all of the fine.” He added in English: “The way to fulfillment is by no means smooth, push yourself and DO NOT SETTLE.” After his feat at the sector championships, the colorful Ning regarded set to megastar at the Olympics. But he bombed at Rio 2016, in which he failed to qualify for the 100m freestyle final. In February 2017, he became thrown out of the China group for “violating the rules” over sponsorship. He could not guard his international title later than 12 months after failing to qualify for the showpiece, bringing up stomach harm.