Chinese swimmers made waves at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this week, securing two bronze medals while Romanian star David Popovici rewrote swimming history with a blistering 100m freestyle world record.
Wan Letian opened China's account with a third-place finish in the women's 50m backstroke final, clocking 27.30 seconds behind American rivals Katharine Berkoff and Regan Smith. The 21-year-old from Shanghai described her podium finish as a psychological breakthrough: "Standing here helps me see where I can improve. This courage will push me further."
China's relay team later added another bronze in the 4×200m freestyle event. Anchored by triple medalist Li Bingjie, the quartet fought through tough competition from swimming powerhouses Australia and the United States. "My teammates set me up perfectly," said Li, who earlier claimed silver in individual 200m and 400m races. "I just focused on finishing strong."
While China strengthened its position in the medal standings, all eyes turned to 17-year-old Popovici's historic 46.86-second sprint – the first sub-47-second 100m freestyle in history. The achievement underscores Asia's growing prominence in global aquatic sports, with the championships continuing through Saturday.
