Sixteen-year-old Chinese swimmer Xie Yichen won the men's 100m breaststroke gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games after taking silver in the men's 100m freestyle. Though troubled by tiredness and the hot outdoor pool conditions, he raced to victory as the Chinese national anthem was played for the first time at the swimming venue. Looking ahead to his 200m individual medley event, Xie shared encouraging words for peers fighting self-doubt.
by sportswriters Wang Qi, Zhang Zewei and Na Yuqi
DAKAR, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- While Lithuania's Domas Vilimas pounded the water in celebration of his bronze medal in the men's 100m breaststroke, China's Xie Yichen clung to the lane rope nearby, staring blankly at the scoreboard.
It took the 16-year-old Chinese swimmer, already a silver medalist in the men's 100m freestyle, nearly 30 seconds to realize he had just become a Youth Olympic champion.
"I wasn't quite sure if I had won at first. My vision was a bit blurry," Xie recalled after claiming his first gold medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Tuesday.
Only then did he raise his right fist and strike the water in a burst of celebration.
A member of the Chinese team that holds the Asian record in the mixed 4x100m medley relay and a national junior record holder in the 100m individual medley, Xie arrived in Senegal with gold firmly in his sights.
But his first event brought disappointment. Russia's Bogdan Toropkin won the men's 100m freestyle in 49.66 seconds, leaving Xie with silver, 0.52 seconds behind.
Between that runner-up finish and his return to the pool at the Complexe Tour de l'Oeuf, Xie made no major adjustments to his routine.
"I just felt exhausted. Even when I went back to the dorm, I couldn't fall asleep. I just kept scrolling on my phone until I finally drifted off," said Xie.
On Tuesday, temperatures in Dakar climbed above 30 degrees Celsius, with the outdoor pool exposed to direct sunlight for hours.
Clocking 1:02.12, Xie narrowly edged Uzbekistan's Muhammadismail Rahmonov to secure a place in the final.
Facing a strong field featuring 200m breaststroke champion Iori Miyazaki, silver medalist Vilimas and bronze medalist Rahmonov, Xie was determined to make his second chance at gold count.
Taking the lead from the start, he held on to touch the wall first in 1:01.03.
Xie said he had barely noticed the other swimmers during the race. "I didn't pay much attention to the others, but towards the end, I stole a glance out of the corner of my eye and spotted Miyazaki. That was when I gave it one final push."
Despite the victory, the 16-year-old saw room for improvement.
"My approach to the wall and turn were both pretty sloppy, but coming away with gold is still a solid result," Xie admitted. "If it hadn't been so hot out here in this outdoor pool, I think I could have comfortably clocked a 1:00.03 or 1:00.04."
Xie's victory marked the first time the Chinese national anthem had been played at the swimming venue since Dakar 2026 opened on October 31.
"I was so thrilled. Seeing our national flag rise because of what I achieved today, I was just so overwhelmed with emotion," he said.
Back in the mixed zone for a second consecutive day, this time with a gold medal around his neck, Xie reflected on his experience in Senegal.
"I honestly don't think I'll ever have another chance to visit Senegal or Dakar. Seeing Cabo Verde right where I learned it was on the map back in geography class as a kid -- it all feels so surreal," he told Xinhua.
Despite having no competition that day, Xie's teammate Chang Mohan also made the journey of more than 30 kilometers from the Youth Olympic Village to the venue. Following the medal ceremony, the two teenagers posed together for a photo.
Xie noted that their journey to Dakar had taken 22 hours by air. "I'm glad I got to experience it. It's the kind of journey that stays with you. While I'm still young, I want to keep building memories that my future self will look back on fondly."
For Xie, the gold medal also marked another step forward in his development.
"Now is not the time to dwell on the past. 2024 and 2025 are behind us. The rookie Xie Yichen from back then is long gone; this is a brand-new Xie Yichen," he reflected, describing how his outlook had changed.
On Wednesday, Xie and Chang are set to return to the pool for their respective events, the men's and women's 200m individual medley.
"I believe our future is in our own hands," Xie reflected, looking ahead to the upcoming races.
The newly crowned Youth Olympic champion also had a message for his peers who might be struggling with self-doubt.
"After every storm comes sunshine. There is always light at the end of the tunnel," he said. ■
