China secures thrilling finswimming relay gold at Chengdu World Games

Gold medalists of China pose for photos after winning the women's surface 4x100m relay of finswimming at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

China stormed to women's 4x100m surface relay victory, while three world records fell on the opening day of finswimming at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu.

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.

Hu Yaoyao of China celebrates after the women's surface relay 4x100m final. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

"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."

Gold medalist Szymon Antoni Kropidlowski (C) of Poland, silver medalist Szebasztian Szabo Gyoergyei (L) of Hungary and bronze medalist Aleksei Fedkin of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete) pose for photos at the award ceremony for the men's bi-fins 100m. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

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.