Chinese swimmers add another two golds at World Aquatics Championships

Dong Zhihao of China won the men's 200-meter breaststroke gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Friday, adding the 21st title at this tournament for his team.

Dong finished the final in 2:07.94, his best personal best record. He was in sixth place after the first 100 meters of the race, but surpassed all of the five swimmers ahead of him with an epic dash in the final 50 meters to win the gold.

"I really didn't expect myself to win," Dong said in an interview with China media Group (CMG) after the victory. "I hadn't been performing well enough in the 200-meter breaststroke event. There was some bad luck. I even wore the wrong trunks. But I managed to do it."

"I want to thank my coach for the tactics he designed for me," Dong added. "The key part was in the third 50 meters. He told me I could beat them in the fourth one, so I had to watch out for the third one. So, I gave my best to it."

Later on Friday, Ji Xinjie, Wang Haoyu, Pan Zhanle and Zhang Zhanshuo won the 22nd title for China in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay event in 7:01.84 and secured qualification for the event at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris this year.

Ji finished the first part in 1:46.45, but he believes he could do better. "Personally, I think there's still room for improvement," he said. "They put their faith in me for me to start. I must respond to their trust."

"I'm happy that we won this title," Wang told CMG. "We had great coordination, just like our female teammates yesterday."

Pan cut China's gap from USA when he was competing in the pool, but he wasn't satisfied with his performance because he didn't swim the fastest. "I need to work harder when I go back to ease the pressure off my teammates," he said. "I also want to congratulate Zhang Zhanshuo for doing so well in the final race. He won two golds at his maiden World Championships."

"Luck had something, but not everything to do with it," Zhang said in the interview. "I didn't want to let me teammates down. I did my best in my part. I want to thank my teammates for setting such a good advantage for me."

On the same day, Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands won the women's 100-meter freestyle gold medal in 52.26 seconds. Her compatriot Tes Schouten claimed the women's 200-meter breaststroke title in 2:19.81. Hugo Gonzalez of Spain pocketed the men's 200-meter backstroke gold in 1:55.30.