Singapore, August 2, 2025: China’s breaststroke ace Qin Haiyang powered to his second gold medal of the World Aquatics Championships Singapore 2025 on Friday, August 1.
Swimming from Lane 8, the 26-year-old Hangzhou Asian Games MVP added the 200m breaststroke title to the 100m gold he won earlier in the meet.
Qin clocked a season-best 2.07.41, ahead of Japanese veteran Watanabe Ippei, who won the silver medal in 2:07.70 – 00.29 seconds behind. Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands was third in 2:07.73.
Despite the victory, Qin told Xinhua News: "I don't think I'm fully back yet. But it's not just about the gold medal. Whether I won today or not, what matters most to me is swimming a good race.
"Before coming to Singapore, I was aiming for somewhere between 2:07 and 2:06. I didn't hit that, but today's time is still my best of the year. I'm proud of it, and it is a positive sign."
Qin's victory also brought his Singapore medal tally to four, following bronze in the 50m breaststroke and silver in the 4x100m mixed medley relay.
"That's not easy," he said. "This gold means more than just me -- it's for our entire team."
The night also saw China's men's 4x200m freestyle relay team - Ji Xinjie, Pan Zhanle, Wang Shun and Zhang Zhanshuo - clock 7:00.91 to break the Asian record and clinch silver in a thrilling finish. Britain won gold, with Australia settling for bronze.
"Breaking the Asian record is very meaningful. It's a strong start to the new Olympic cycle," said Ji, who led off the relay. "We'll review this race carefully and aim for an even better result in Los Angeles."
In the diving competition, Mexico's Osmar Olvera Ibarra delivered a historic win in the men's 3m springboard final, scoring 529.55 to defeat China's Cao Yuan and Wang Zongyuan. It was the first time since 2005 that a non-Chinese athlete won gold in the event.