Chinese para-athlete Long Dengxi made history at the 2025 Chengdu World Games this week, securing two gold medals in freediving while Hungary's Zsofia Torocsik shattered a world record in a stunning display of athleticism.
The 18-year-old Long, who began freediving training less than a year ago, first triumphed in Sunday's men's dynamic without fins (FFS1-FFS2) event before claiming gold in Monday's dynamic with fins competition with a 181.5-meter performance. "Winning two golds leaves me thrilled," Long told reporters, crediting his coaches and vowing to "keep pursuing this sport."
Hungary's Torocsik dominated the women's dynamic with fins event, breaking her own world record by an extraordinary 16 meters to reach 300 meters. "I wanted the world record so much," said the emotional champion, emphasizing consistent effort as her key to success.
China's Huang Jingqiu rebounded from Sunday's disqualification to win gold in the women's dynamic without fins, though teammates Huang Shiyu and Kong Tianci faced technical disqualifications. Poland's Mateusz Jan Malina mirrored Long's double victory in men's events, while his compatriots claimed multiple podium finishes.
The inclusive competition, featuring both para and non-para athletes, concluded with China leading the medal table (4 golds), followed by Poland (3 golds) and Italy (2 golds). The event highlighted Asia's growing prominence in adaptive sports and international athletic cooperation.
