Butterfly queen Liu fails to make Rio Games

With a fifth finish at her signature event 200m butterfly, Beijing Olympic champion Liu Zige failed to qualify for the Rio Games from the Chinese National Swimming Championships on Thursday.

It is the end of an era. Liu and Jiao Liuyang had dominated the 200m fly since the 2008 Beijing Games. Jiao won the London Games, and Liu ranked second that time.

Liu shed tears after the final without a word. She had went through a hard time but managed to come back to her top at the 2013 World Championships where she won the 200m gold.

Liu has been bothered by shoulder injuries in recent years but determined to carry on, while Jiao has already retired. But this time in Foshan, the national championships might be the 27-year-old's farewell competition.

Liu still holds the world record of 200m fly in 2:01.81.

Hebei swimmer Zhou Yilin came from behind to win in 2:06.56, a world third fastest time. Jiangsu's Zhang Yufei ranked second in 2:07.13, and Beijing's Wang Siqi third in 2:07.47.

With the absence of Ning Zetao, who withdrew from the 100m free final due to a fever, Guangdong's Yu Hexin won in 48.47.

"Without Ning, there's less competition and if he was here, I think I can be faster," Yu said.

Ning timed a world second 47.96 on Wednesday's semis but gave up the final.

"He got a fever last night and took some medicine," said Ning's coach Ye Jin. "He's much better today and had to stay at the hotel to rest."

Zhejiang swimmer Mao Feilian won the men's 200m breaststroke in 2:09.98, trailed by Tianjin's Li Xiang, in 2:11.01, and Chinese Navy's Qin Haiyang, in 2:11.41. The 100m breast winner Wang Lizhuo came fourth in 2:11.86. The world top time this year is 2:01.52, timed by Hungary's Gabor Balog.

Also on Thursday, team Liaoning won the women's 4x200m freestyle relay in 7:59.58. Hebei and Shandong came second and third respectively.

The National Swimming Championships, which also serves as Olympic trials, will end on Sunday.