Gold medalist Zhang Yufei (C) of China, silver medalist Margaret Macneil (L) of Canada and bronze medalist Torri Huske of the United States react during the awarding ceremony for women's 100m butterfly at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
FUKUOKA, Japan, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Yufei claimed the women's 100m butterfly title and Qin Haiyang registered a historic breaststroke victory here on Monday as China consolidated its lead on medal standings at the World Aquatics Championships.
17-year-old Yu Yiting added a bronze in the women's 200m individual medley (IM) to China's medal haul on the second day of swimming competition.
China is now atop the medal table with 17 golds, five silvers and six bronzes. 12 of the gold medals were won by their all-conquering diving team and three from artistic swimmers. Australia is second on 5-2-1, and Japan third on 4-1-4.
Qin, 24, set a world leading time of 57.69 seconds to become the first Chinese men's breaststroker to win a world title.
Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi, Dutchman Arno Kamminga and American veteran Nic Fink shared the second place as the trio clocked an identical time of 58.72 seconds.
Only a few minutes later, Zhang, 200m butterfly gold winner at the Tokyo Olympics, earned China the second gold in swimming at the Fukuoka worlds in the women's 100m butterfly after clocking 56.12 seconds.
Canada's Margaret MacNeil finished second in 56.45 seconds, and defending champion Torri Huske of the United States was third in 56.61.
Yu Yiting followed U.S. duo Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh to touch home, securing her first medal at the worlds in 2:08.74.
Douglass took her first world title in 2:07.17, while defending champion Walsh finished second in 2:07.97.
China's Ye Shiwen, who rose to stardom by striking an individual medley golden double at the London Olympics, finished eighth in 2:14.27.
The other gold medal of the day went to Italy's Thomas Ceccon in the men's 50m butterfly.
Portugal's Diogo Matos Ribeiro took silver, and Frenchman Maxime Grousset settled for bronze. ■
Qin Haiyang of China competes during the men's 100m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Yu Yiting of China competes during the women's 200m medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Zhang Yufei of China reacts after the women's 100m butterfly final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Gold medalist Qin Haiyang of China reacts during the awarding ceremony for men's 100m breaststroke at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Gold medalist Zhang Yufei of China reacts during the awarding ceremony for women's 100m butterfly at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Gold medalist Zhang Yufei (L) of China reacts after the awarding ceremony for women's 100m butterfly at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Zhang Yufei of China competes during the women's 100m butterfly final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Qin Haiyang of China competes during the men's 100m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Qin Haiyang of China celebrates after the men's 100m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Zhang Yufei of China reacts before the women's 100m butterfly final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Gold medalist Zhang Yufei of China reacts after the awarding ceremony for women's 100m butterfly at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Kate Douglass of the United States reacts after the women's 200m medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Thomas Ceccon of Italy reacts after the men's 50m butterfly final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Zhang Yufei of China gets interviewed after the women's 100m butterfly final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Kate Douglass of the United States competes during the women's 200m medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Bronze medalist Yu Yiting of China signs for fans after the awarding ceremony for women's 200m medley at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Thomas Ceccon of Italy competes during the men's 50m butterfly final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Pan Zhanle of China competes during the men's 200m freestyle semifinal at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Bronze medalist Yu Yiting of China reacts after the awarding ceremony for women's 200m medley at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Pan Zhanle of China competes during the men's 200m freestyle semifinal at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Xu Jiayu of China competes during the men's 100m backstroke semifinal at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Wang Xueer of China starts during the women's 100m backstroke semifinal at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Yan Zibei of China reacts after the men's 100m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Bronze medalist Yu Yiting of China reacts after the awarding ceremony for women's 200m medley at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Yan Zibei of China competes during the men's 100m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Zhang Yufei of China looks on after the women's 100m butterfly final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Zhang Yufei of China is seen before the women's 100m butterfly final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Yu Yiting of China competes during the women's 200m medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
