China add two diving golds, Qin wins men's 100m breaststroke

Qin Haiyang claimed the 2025 World Aquatics Championships men's 100-meter breaststroke title on Monday, securing China's first swimming gold medal at the tournament, while the country's diving team added two more golds in the men's three-meter synchronized springboard and the women's 10-meter synchronized platform events.

Wang Zongyuan and Zheng Jiuyuan, newly paired for this competition, claimed the men's three-meter springboard synchro title with a commanding total of 467.31 points. The silver medal went to Mexico's Osmar Olvera Ibarra and Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez, runners-up at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while British duo Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding settled for bronze.

Wang Zongyuan/Zheng Jiuyuan (R) of China pose after the awarding ceremony for the men's 3m synchronised final of diving at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, July 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

"Both the prelims and the final reflected the level I've shown in training," Zheng Jiuyuan said. "I managed to stay calm and focused. Winning here - after also taking gold in the one-meter springboard - really proves to myself that I have what it takes."

For Wang Zongyuan, the victory marked his fourth consecutive world title in this event. "We're a new pairing, and both of us were nervous and feeling the pressure," said the Olympic champion. "But from the prelims to the final, each of our dives kept getting better."

In the women's 10-meter synchronized platform final, Chen Yuxi and Zhang Minjie, also newly paired, delivered a consistent and polished performance to win gold with 349.26 points. Despite having only trained together for two months, the Chinese duo maintained their top position from the preliminary rounds through the final. Mexico's Gabriela Agundez Garcia and Alejandra Estudillo Torres took silver, while Kim Mi Hwa and Jo Jin Mi from the DPR Korea claimed bronze.

Chen, who secured her fourth straight world title in the event following wins in Budapest, Fukuoka and Doha, credited the result to persistent effort. "As long as I'm still diving, I will give 100 percent to every performance. Every time I step onto the platform, I want to show my best self. That will never change."

In the swimming event, Qin captured China's first swimming gold in the men's 100-meter breaststroke final, clocking 58.23 seconds.

Qin, who had qualified fastest in the semifinals, trailed Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy in the first 50 meters. However, the reigning world champion surged in the closing stretch, overtaking his rival in the final meters to clinch the victory. Denis Petrashov of Kyrgyzstan finished third.

"It came down to the last 10 meters," Qin said. "At that point, nobody had much left, so it was all about technique. I think that gave me the edge."

12-year-old Yu Zidi impressed in the women's 200-meter individual medley final, mounting a powerful freestyle finish to place fourth, just 0.06 seconds shy of the podium. Canada's Summer McIntosh and Mary-Sophie Harvey won gold and bronze, while America's Alex Walsh claimed silver.

"I was really nervous before the race," Yu said. "But at the same time, I was excited to compete against some of the world's top athletes. The result was excellent - it went beyond what I expected."

In the women's 100-meter butterfly final, Zhang Yufei touched in 56.47 seconds for fourth place, with fellow Chinese Yu Yiting finishing eighth. America's Gretchen Walsh won gold in a championship record time of 54.73, while Belgium's Roos Vanotterdijk and Alexandria Perkins of Australia took silver and bronze, respectively.

In the evening's semifinals, China's Peng Xuwei qualified for the women's 100-meter backstroke final, while compatriot Tang Qianting advanced to the women's 100-meter breaststroke final in third place.