Chinese swimmer Qin Haiyang made waves at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Monday, claiming China's first swimming gold in the men's 100-meter breaststroke with a nail-biting finish. The 24-year-old clocked 58.23 seconds, overtaking Italy's Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi in the final meters through what he called "a battle of technique" when stamina ran low.
"In those last 10 meters, we were all exhausted," Qin told reporters. "That's where precise form made the difference." The victory marks Qin's continued dominance after his 2023 world championship win.
Young talent Yu Zidi nearly stole the spotlight earlier, with the 12-year-old finishing fourth in the women's 200m individual medley – just 0.06 seconds from a podium position. "Competing against legends was nerve-wracking but incredible," said Yu, whose powerful freestyle finish surprised seasoned rivals.
While Zhang Yufei placed fourth in the women's 100m butterfly, China's depth showed through as Peng Xuwei and Tang Qianting advanced to Tuesday's finals in backstroke and breaststroke events respectively. The championships continue through Saturday, with Asian athletes demonstrating growing competitiveness across disciplines.
