Chinese swimmers win gold and bronze at swimming world championships

World Today

Chinese Swimmers Win Gold(L to R) China’s gold medal winners Xu Jiayu and Sun Yang
Published July 25, 2017 at 2:59 PM
Updated August 14, 2017 at 1:59 PM

Chinese swimmers won gold medals and a bronze at the Fina World Championships. 

China’s Sun Yang got a bit of payback for his Olympic defeat in the men’s 400 free, pulling away from rival Mack Horton of Australia.

SWIM-WORLD-MEN China's Sun Yang

China’s Sun Yang reacts after competing in the men’s 200m freestyle final during the swimming competition at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, on July 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ATTILA KISBENEDEK

Yang was in a league of his own in a stacked field that featured the past three Olympic champions: Horton (2016), Sun (2012) and South Korea’s Park Tae-hwan (2008).

“I have no exact target for the week,” the 25-year-old Sun said through an interpreter. “I’m in a lot of pain. I’ve been training a lot for the last year. I’m also getting old, so there are a couple of injuries here and there. I’m always wrapped up in tape after every competition.”

The Chinese star finished more than two body lengths ahead of the field, finishing in 3:41.38. Horton settled for the silver, far back at 3:43.85, while Park finished fourth behind bronze medalist Gabriele Detti of Italy.

China’s Xu Jiayu won the gold in the Men’s 100 backstroke time of 52.44.  It is China’s first gold in the event in world championships. 

SWIM-WORLD-WOMEN China's Xu Jiayu

China’s Xu Jiayu reacts after competing in the men’s 100m backstroke final during the swimming competition at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, on July 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOPHE SIMON

China’s Li Bingjie claimed the bronze medal in the women’s 400-meter freestyle.

SWIM-WORLD-WOMEN China's Li Bingjie

This picture taken with an underwater camera shows China’s Li Bingjie competing in a women’s 400m freestyle heat during the swimming competition at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, on July 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / François-Xavier MARIT

(FromR) Silver medalist USA’s Leah Smith and Bronze medalist China’s Li Bingjie celebrate on the podium of the women’s 400m freestyle final during the swimming competition at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, on July 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Martin BUREAU

Story by The Associated Press with additional information from CGTN.