Qin Haiyang displays his trophy for Best Male Swimmer of the Year in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: VCG

Qin poses with the swimming female athlete of the year, Kaylee McKeown, at the award ceremony on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Qin receives the award for Best Male Swimmer of the Year 2023. Photo: Xinhua

On Oct. 20, Qin shakes hands with Arno Kamminga from the Netherlands after winning the men’s 200m breaststroke final during the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: VCG

Qin competes during the Men’s 50m breaststroke heats at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023. Photo: VCG

On July 30, Qin flaunts his medals at the World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka 2023, where he became the first male swimmer in history to sweep the 50m, 100m and 200m titles in any stroke at a single edition of the competition. Photo: VCG

On Aug. 2, Qin wins the gold medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke at the 31st Chengdu Summer Universiade. Photo: VCG

On Sept. 26, Qin and his teammates take home the gold medal in the men’s 4x100m mixed medley relay at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Photo: VCG

On Sept. 23, at the Hangzhou Asian Games opening ceremony, Qin serving as the flag bearer, led the Chinese delegation into the event. Photo: VCG