Wen Zhang earns WCAP slot for men's swimming
8/7/2023 1:00:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
COLORADO SPRINGS- Wen Zhang, a 2023 Air Force graduate and four-year letterwinner for the men's swimming program, was selected for the Air Force World Class Athlete Program (WCAP).
Zhang is slated to train at Arizona State University under Bob Bowman, the legendary coach whose pupils include 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Zhang will prepare for the the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in June of 2024.
Zhang was again one of the most prolific Division I swimmers in his final season at Air Force, while rewriting his own records at the Academy. Before earning his second-consecutive WAC Swimmer of the Year honor, Zhang swam to championship win in the 500 Freestyle at the WAC Championships, resetting the conference and school record with a time of 4:15.96. Zhang was also the winner of the 200 Freestyle race, recording the third-best time in Division I after touching out at 1:31.42, a new conference and program record. The Alabaman also placed second at the championship meet in the 100 Freestyle, as his time of 42.32 became a school record as well. Zhang eventually earned Honorable Mention All-American honors at the 2023 NCAA Division I Championship in the 200 Freestyle.
The Air Force World Class Athlete Program, managed by the Air Force Services Center, was established in 1995 to continue the legacy of Tuskegee Airman Malvin G. Whitfield. Whitfield, a Korean War tail gunner, became the first active-duty American serviceman to win Olympic gold in 1952 in Helsinki.
Unlike "Marvelous Mal" Whitfield, who trained for the '52 Games by running on an airfield between bombing missions, today's WCAP athletes train full time as part of the two-year program and compete in U.S. Armed Forces events, the Conseil International du Sport Militaire (Military World Games), Olympic Games and qualifying events for those games. Although WCAP athletes train full-time in their given sport, they are also required to complete all annual and ancillary training, professional military education, fitness assessments and other mandatory tasks required of all Airmen.
The inaugural WCAP summer session was for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Since its inception, 13 WCAP athletes have represented the United States at the world's largest athletic stage. Many more have excelled in their sport at all levels to go on to compete at U.S. Olympic Trials. Prior to acceptance into the program, the national governing body for each sport reviews athlete applications and provides recommendations to the Air Force. The chief of Air Force Services at Headquarters Air Force is the final approval of athlete participation in the program.
Zhang is slated to train at Arizona State University under Bob Bowman, the legendary coach whose pupils include 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Zhang will prepare for the the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in June of 2024.
Zhang was again one of the most prolific Division I swimmers in his final season at Air Force, while rewriting his own records at the Academy. Before earning his second-consecutive WAC Swimmer of the Year honor, Zhang swam to championship win in the 500 Freestyle at the WAC Championships, resetting the conference and school record with a time of 4:15.96. Zhang was also the winner of the 200 Freestyle race, recording the third-best time in Division I after touching out at 1:31.42, a new conference and program record. The Alabaman also placed second at the championship meet in the 100 Freestyle, as his time of 42.32 became a school record as well. Zhang eventually earned Honorable Mention All-American honors at the 2023 NCAA Division I Championship in the 200 Freestyle.
The Air Force World Class Athlete Program, managed by the Air Force Services Center, was established in 1995 to continue the legacy of Tuskegee Airman Malvin G. Whitfield. Whitfield, a Korean War tail gunner, became the first active-duty American serviceman to win Olympic gold in 1952 in Helsinki.
Unlike "Marvelous Mal" Whitfield, who trained for the '52 Games by running on an airfield between bombing missions, today's WCAP athletes train full time as part of the two-year program and compete in U.S. Armed Forces events, the Conseil International du Sport Militaire (Military World Games), Olympic Games and qualifying events for those games. Although WCAP athletes train full-time in their given sport, they are also required to complete all annual and ancillary training, professional military education, fitness assessments and other mandatory tasks required of all Airmen.
The inaugural WCAP summer session was for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Since its inception, 13 WCAP athletes have represented the United States at the world's largest athletic stage. Many more have excelled in their sport at all levels to go on to compete at U.S. Olympic Trials. Prior to acceptance into the program, the national governing body for each sport reviews athlete applications and provides recommendations to the Air Force. The chief of Air Force Services at Headquarters Air Force is the final approval of athlete participation in the program.
Players Mentioned
Free
/ Men's Swimming and DivingRob Clayton Interview - March 17th, 2026
Tuesday, March 17
Rob Clayton Interview - March 3rd, 2026
Tuesday, March 03
Falcon Swimmers prepare for MPSF Championships
Monday, February 23
Rob Clayton Interview Feb 3, 2026
Tuesday, February 03
