The pressure is on, records are meant to be broken, and dreams are either realized or shattered. Day Eight of the 2025 Chinese National Games delivered some incredible performances, showcasing the nation's top swimming talent. Let's dive into the finals and see who emerged victorious!
First, the Essentials: Your Guide to Following the Action
Before we jump into the race recaps, here's a quick rundown for those of you who want to follow the Games closely:
- Event: 2025 Chinese National Games (Swimming Competition)
- Dates: Monday, November 10th – Monday, November 17th, 2025
- Location: Shenzhen, China
- Pool: Long Course (50 meters)
- Schedule: Prelims at 9:00 AM local time (8:00 PM ET the previous night). Finals at 7:00 PM local time (6:00 AM ET).
- Catch up on previous days: Day 1 Recap (https://swimswam.com/2025-chinese-natinonal-games-day-one-finals-live-recap/) / Day 2 Recap (https://swimswam.com/2025-chinese-national-games-day-two-finals-live-recap/) / Day 3 Recap (https://swimswam.com/2025-chinese-national-games-day-three-finals-live-recap/) / Day 4 Recap (https://swimswam.com/2025-chinese-national-games-day-four-finals-live-recap/) / Day 5 Recap (https://swimswam.com/2025-chinese-national-games-day-five-finals-live-recap/) / Day 6 Recap (https://swimswam.com/2025-chinese-national-games-day-six-finals-live-recap/) / Day 7 Recap (https://swimswam.com/2025-chinese-national-games-day-seven-finals-live-recap/)
- Official Meet Central: (https://wrs.baygames.cn/)
- Official Results: (https://wrs.baygames.cn/discipline/SWM/schedule?event=SWMW200MIM------------------------)
- Livestream: (https://www.youtube.com/live/JYV1qBfVKhg?si=4rLnTZYd_eM8o2sj)
Men's 50m Backstroke: Xu Jiayu Reclaims His Throne
- World Record: 23.55, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2023
- Asian Record: 24.24, Junya Koga (JPN), 2009
- Chinese Record: 24.36, Xu Jiayu, 2025
The Results:
- GOLD: Xu Jiayu, 24.40
- SILVER: Wang Zicheng, 24.80
- BRONZE: Jiang Chenglin, 25.01
Two swimmers broke the 25-second barrier in a thrilling 50m backstroke final. Xu Jiayu, the seasoned 30-year-old Olympic medalist, led the pack. He clocked in at 24.40, a hair off his own freshly minted national record of 24.36 which he set during the semi-finals. Talk about consistency! Wang Zicheng secured the silver medal with a time of 24.80, while Jiang Chenglin touched the wall in 25.01 to grab the bronze. Fun fact: Jiang also placed third in the 100m backstroke. Xu’s victory completes a clean sweep in the backstroke events.
Women's 50m Breaststroke: Tang Qianting Takes Gold
- World Record: 29.16, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2023
- Asian Record: 29.51, Tang Qianting (CHN), 2024
- Chinese Record: 29.51, Tang Qianting (CHN), 2024
The Results:
- GOLD: Tang Qianting, 30.00
- SILVER: Yang Chang, 30.11
- BRONZE: Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 30.71
Tang Qianting, the top seed, lived up to expectations and clinched the gold medal in the women's 50m breaststroke. Her time of 30.00 was just a fraction off her performance from the previous night (30.01). Yang Chang showed significant improvement, finishing strong with a time of 30.11 for the silver, a notable upgrade from her earlier 30.56. Siobhan Haughey from Hong Kong added another medal to her collection, securing the bronze. But here's where it gets interesting... This win is arguably a redemption for Tang, especially after her unexpected loss in the 200m breaststroke where 15-year-old Lyu Qinyao snatched the gold. In the 2023 Asian Games, Tang won gold in this event (29.96) and Haughey took bronze (30.36, a Hong Kong national record), so both are familiar with the podium.
Women's 50m Freestyle: Wu Qingfeng Sprints to Victory
- World Record: 23.61, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2023
- Asian Record: 23.97, Liu Xiang (CHN), 2021
- Chinese Record: 23.97, Liu Xiang (CHN), 2021
The Results:
- GOLD: Wu Qingfeng, 24.21
- SILVER: Cheng Yujie, 24.23
- BRONZE: Siobhan Haughey (HKG) & Lu Yue, 24.84 (Tie)
In a lightning-fast race, 22-year-old Wu Qingfeng blazed through the water to claim the gold in the women's 50m freestyle with an impressive 24.21. This time is just shy of her personal best (24.18) from earlier this year, making her the third-fastest Chinese swimmer of all time in this event. Cheng Yujie followed closely, securing the silver medal with a time of 24.23, shaving 0.05 seconds off her previous best which she also achieved behind Wu in Singapore. And in a surprising turn of events, we witnessed a tie for the bronze medal between Siobhan Haughey (fresh from her 50m breaststroke race!) and Lu Yue. The drama didn't end there! Zhang Yufei and the incredibly young 13-year-old Wu Yunhan also tied, sharing 5th place with a time of 24.93.
Men's 1500m Freestyle: (Results Pending)
- World Record: 14:30.67, Bobby Finke (USA), 2024
- Asian Record: 14:31.02, Sun Yang (CHN), 2012
- Chinese Record: 14:31.02, Sun Yang (CHN), 2012
The Results:
- GOLD:
- SILVER:
- BRONZE:
Men's 400m Individual Medley: (Results Pending)
- World Record: 4:02.50, Leon Marchand (FRA), 2023
- Asian Record: 4:06.06, Kosuke Hagino (JPN), 2016
- Chinese Record: 4:09.10, Wang Shun, 2013
The Results:
- GOLD:
- SILVER:
- BRONZE:
Women's 400m Individual Medley: (Results Pending)
- World Record: 4:23.65, Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2025
- Asian Record: 4:28.43, Ye Shiwen (CHN), 2012
- Chinese Record: 4:28.43, Ye Shiwen (CHN), 2012
The Results:
- GOLD:
- SILVER:
- BRONZE:
Men's 4x100m Medley Relay: (Results Pending)
- World Record: 3:26.78, USA, 2021
- Asian Record: 3:27.01, CHN, 2023
- Chinese Record: 3:27.01, CHN, 2023
The Results:
- GOLD:
- SILVER:
- BRONZE:
Women's 4x100m Medley Relay: (Results Pending)
- World Record: 3:49.34, USA, 2025
- Asian Record: 3:52.19, CHN, 2009
- Chinese Record: 3:52.19, CHN, 2009
The Results:
- GOLD:
- SILVER:
- BRONZE:
Final Thoughts and Discussion
Day Eight offered a mix of expected victories and surprising upsets. Xu Jiayu proved his dominance, while Tang Qianting bounced back from a previous setback. Wu Qingfeng emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the sprint freestyle. What do you think about Tang's victory after her upset in the 200m breaststroke? Do you believe this win is a true redemption, or does the 200m result still cast a shadow? Also, the fact that a 13-year-old made it to the finals alongside seasoned veterans sparks a debate: Is China's youth development program producing results, or is it too early to tell? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
