Zhang Yufei of China waves to audience before the women's 50m butterfly final at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Gang)
Chinese swimmers took four out of the six gold medals on offer and refreshed two FISU records in swimming at the Chengdu Universiade.
CHENGDU, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese swimmers dominated the swimming competitions and won four out of the six gold medals on offer at the FISU World University Games here on Wednesday.
Zhang Yufei from Southeast University of China, winner of the 200m butterfly and runner-up in the 100m butterfly at the Tokyo Olympic Games, timed 25.20 seconds, a new FISU record, to grab the gold of women's 50m butterfly.
Qin Haiyang, who is a student of Tongji University and won four gold medals in the just-ended World Aquatics Championships in Japan in July, reached the highest position of the podium in men's 100m breaststroke after clocking 58.92.
Qin Haiyang of China competes in the men's 100m breaststroke final at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Gang)
Liu Yaxin, representing Shanghai Jiaotong University, took the first place in women's 200m backstroke.
"There are many differences between the World Championships and the FISU Games. In the event, we have more intensive schedule. I was relaxed and the crowd's support brought me confidence," Liu said.
In the mixed 4x100m medley relay, the team of Wang Gukailai, Qin, Zhang and Li Bingjie finished first in 3:44.02, updating the FISU record. Although China only ranked third after the first leg, Qin kept chasing and taking Team China to the lead in the second leg.
Neither the runner-up Poland nor the bronze medal winner Italy posed a serious threat to China in the last 200m. Li's touch threw the audience of Dong'an Lake Sports Park Aquatics Center into frenzy.
Liu Yaxin of China in action during the women's 200m backstroke finnal at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
"We were going to celebrate the victory after the relay, however, we haven't found any proper celebrating ways," said Zhang.
"I'd like to keep practicing before the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. I will take apart in more competitions before that major event."
In other swimming finals on Wednesday, Luca Armbruster of Germany touched first in 23.22 in men's 50m fly, and Italian Simone Stefani pocketed gold in men's 100m backstroke with 53.95.
All the swimming events will be finished on August 7, and 32 more gold medals will be up for grabs. ■
