China's Liu Yaxin reacts after winning the women's 400m freestyle final at the World Aquatics Short Course Swimming World Cup in Shanghai, China, October 18, 2024. /CFP
China had a strong showing on the opening day of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Shanghai, grabbing two gold, four silver, and two bronze medals.
Liu Yaxin claimed victory in the women's 400m freestyle with a time of 3:58.45, while Li Bingjie and Tang Muhan secured second and third place, respectively. World champion Qin Haiyang took home the gold in the men's 100m breaststroke in 55.73 seconds, with Sun Jiajun grabbing the bronze.
China's Chen Luying during the women's 200m butterfly final at the World Aquatics Short Course Swimming World Cup in Shanghai, China, October 18, 2024. /CFP
In the women's 200m butterfly, 17-year-old Chen Luying set a new junior world record of 2:02.71, earning a silver medal for China. Meanwhile, American swimmer Regan Smith clinched gold with a time of 2:01.85.
Olympic champion Zhang Yufei secured a silver in the women's 50m freestyle, closely trailing behind Poland's Katarzyna Wasick. Yu Yiting settled for silver in the women's 100m individual medley after a close race with American Kate Douglass, who also triumphed in the women's 200m breaststroke.
France's Olympic champion Leon Marchand dominated the men's 100m individual medley with a time of 50.65 seconds. Chinese veteran Wang Shun finished fourth, while Olympic 100m freestyle champion Pan Zhanle claimed the sixth spot.