Shenzhen’s swimming arena became a stage for triumph on Thursday as athletes broke multiple national records during the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th National Special Olympic Games. The event, running through December 2025, continues to highlight China’s commitment to inclusive sports development.
Shandong Province emerged as a powerhouse, with Wang Ziqing claiming gold in the women’s 400m freestyle S12 (5:06.74) and Xu Xingshang rewriting the men’s 400m freestyle S12 record at 4:19.97. Guangdong’s Huang Xueliang also made waves by setting a new national benchmark of 1:01.63 in the men’s 100m butterfly S13.
Notable performances included Liaoning’s Zhang Xiaotong dominating the women’s 200m individual medley SM11, while Zhejiang’s Li Zhixin secured gold in the men’s equivalent event with a 2:29.13 finish. The games have drawn over 4,000 athletes from 31 provincial teams since their December 9 opening.
Organizers emphasize these results reflect improved training systems and technological advancements in para-sports equipment. With three days remaining, officials anticipate more record-breaking performances as athletes compete across 22 major disciplines.
