Gold medalists team China pose during the awarding ceremony for the women's surface relay 4x100m of the Finswimming event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
CHENGDU, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus Natatorium witnessed three world records on Sunday afternoon, as finswimming events opened at The World Games 2025, with host China clinching a relay gold after a thrilling comeback.
China's team, consisting of Shu Chengjing, Xu Yichuan, Xie Wenmin and Hu Yaoyao, trailed for the first 350 meters of the women's surface relay 4x100m event. However, Hu surged ahead in the final stretch, overtaking leader Colombia amid thunderous cheers from the home crowd to secure victory.
Colombia finished second, just 0.48 seconds behind, while Ukraine took home the bronze.
"I fell short in my individual event, so I was aiming for redemption in the relay," said Hu, 25. "Once I drew level at the turn, I knew that they wouldn't see my wake again."
Max Poschart of Germany, shortly after claiming the men's surface 100m gold with a new World Games record, led his team to a dominating victory in the men's surface relay 4x100m with a world record time of 59.35 seconds.
China initially finished second but was later disqualified, with Ukraine and Colombia completing the podium in second and third place respectively.
In the men's surface 400m final, Nandor Kiss of Hungary clocked two minutes 52.68 seconds, shaving nearly two seconds off his previous world record of 2:54.64 set at the same venue during the World Games Series in March.
"I was prepared for this competition. I knew it," said the 19-year-old of his new world record. "But taking two seconds off my best is still unbelievable."
Poland's Szymon Kropidlowski improved his own record in the men's bi-fins 100m, lowering it from 40.60 to 40.45 seconds, securing the gold.
Neutral athlete Diana Sliseva and Hungary's world record holder Petra Senanszky emerged victorious in the women's Apnoea 50m and women's bi-fins 50m, respectively.
Finswimming involves swimming with a monofin or bi-fins, either on the surface using a snorkel or underwater holding one's breath. The World Games features three categories of finswimming events: Apnoea, Surface, and Bi-fins. ■
Gold medalist Max Poschart (C) of Germany, silver medalist Justus Moerstedt (R) of Germany and bronze medalist Tarek Hassan Elsayed of Egypt pose during the awarding ceremony for the men's surface 100m final of the Finswimming event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
Gold medalist Petra Senanszky (C) of Hungary, silver medalist Huang Mei Chien (L) of Chinese Taipei and bronze medalist Valeriia Andreeva of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete) pose during the awarding ceremony for the women's bi fins 50m of the Finswimming event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
Gold medalist Diana Sliseva (C) of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete), silver medalist Seo Uijin (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Yoon Miri of South Korea pose during the awarding ceremony for the women's apnoea 50m of the Finswimming event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
Gold medalist Nandor Kiss (C) of Hungary, silver medalist Oleksii Zakharov (R) of Ukraine and bronze medalist Istvan Alex Mozsar of Hungary pose during the awarding ceremony for the men's surface 400m of the Finswimming event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
Gold medalist Sofiia Hrechko (C) of Ukraine, silver medalist Lilla Greta Blaszak (L) of Hungary and bronze medalist Ekaterina Mikhaylushkina of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete) pose during the awarding ceremony for the women's surface 200m of Finswimming event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
Gold medalists team China (C), silver medalists team Colombia (L) and bronze medalists team Ukraine pose during the awarding ceremony for the women's surface relay 4x100m of the Finswimming event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
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