Gold medalists Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei and Cheng Yujie (L to R) of Team China pose for photos after the award ceremony for the mixed 4x100 medley relay final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
FUKUOKA, Japan, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Qin Haiyang earned his second breaststroke title first and then guided China to their first mixed 4x100m medley relay victory at the World Aquatics Championships on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old added the men's 50m breaststroke gold medal to his 100m triumph two days ago.
American Nic Fink, the defending champion, took silver and Qin's fellow Chinese Sun Jiajun finished third.
After about an hour's rest, Qin joined teammates Xu Jiayu, the 2017 and 2019 backstroke champion, Zhang Yufei, the 200m butterfly winner, and youngster Cheng Yujie to seal the relay title, beating Australia and the United States into second and third places.
Qin, who swam the second leg, thus became the first swimmer to win three gold medals at the Fukuoka worlds.
"I feel so amazing," he said, adding that breaking the world record will be his next target.
But he acknowledged that he was very lucky to win the relay because he was very tired after the individual race.
"I was not in good form because of the 50m breaststroke final. Fortunately thanks to my teammates' excellent performance, we had the last laugh."
Zhang, the third leg, said, "This is our time, it's a great time. I have a beautiful and wonderful (team)."
France's Leon Marchand also completed a golden double with a victory in the men's 200m butterfly title, following his 400m individual medley victory on Monday.
In the women's 200m freestyle final, Mollie O'Callaghan broke the world record as she led Australia to a 1-2 finish.
The 19-year-old hit the wall first in a time of one minute 52.85 seconds, taking 0.13 seconds off the previous world record of 1:52.98, set by Italy's Federica Pellegrini.
Ariarne Titmus, the 400m freestyle winner, came in second with 0.16 seconds behind. Canada's Summer McIntosh, 16, finished third.
The men's 800m freestyle title went to Tunisia's Ahmed Hafnaoui, the Tokyo Olympic 400m gold winner. ■
Gold medalists Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei and Cheng Yujie (R to L) of Team China attend the award ceremony for the mixed 4x100 medley relay final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Gold medalists Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei and Cheng Yujie (L to R) of Team China take selfies after the award ceremony for the mixed 4x100 medley relay final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Xu Jiayu (2nd R) of Team China jumps into water during the mixed 4x100 medley relay final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Zhang Yufei of Team China competes during the mixed 4x100 medley relay final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Cheng Yujie (bottom) of Team China competes during the mixed 4x100 medley relay final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Gold medalists Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei and Cheng Yujie (5th R to 5th L) of Team China react during the awarding ceremony for the mixed 4x100 medley relay final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Gold medalist Qin Haiyang (C) of China, silver medalist Nic Fink (L) of the United States and bronze medalist Sun Jiajun of China pose for photos during the award ceremony for the men's 50m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
