FUKUOKA, Japan, July 24 (silubaba) -- China's Qin Haiyang said that winning the men's 100 meters breaststroke title on Monday is just the "start" of his journey at the World Aquatics Championships.
"I will try my best to do well in 50m and 200m. I hope to win all three events," the 24-year-old told a press conference after becoming the first Chinese men's breaststroker to strike a world title.
"Today's race went as smoothly as planned," he added. "I knew that if I followed my rhythm, I would be sure to win the gold medal."
He said that the biggest challenge will come from the 200m event, then from 50m.
"I will make every effort to achieve my target," he said.
In the 200m breaststroke, Qin will face Frenchman Leon Marchand, who broke Michael Phelps' 15-year-old world record in 400m individual medley (IM) on Sunday.
"Honestly, I cannot compete with him in the 200m IM. But I am ready to race against him in the 200m breaststroke," Qin said.
Qin clocked a world-leading 57.69 seconds, also a new Asian record, to secure the title on Monday.
"I can do better," an excited Qin told the audience soon after his victory.
Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi, Dutchman Arno Kamminga and American veteran Nic Fink were all awarded a silver medal after clocking an identical time of 58.72 seconds.
Qin, competing in the 100m breaststroke for the first time in his four World Championships since 2017, is China's first swimming champion at the Fukuoka worlds.
He has also become China's fifth male world champion in swimming since Zhang Lin won the men's 800 meters freestyle at the 2009 Rome worlds. ■
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