Hosts China put on a dominant display at the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, clinching seven out of 11 events as the tournament concluded on Sunday.
Leading the charge was 19-year-old rising star Xu Huiyan, who emerged as a standout performer. Xu claimed five gold medals across six events, showcasing exceptional technical skills and remarkable consistency. She took home titles in the women’s solo technical and duet technical events, and was part of China’s victorious team in three team events.
“The intensity of this competition was quite high for me, with a packed schedule from morning till night,” Xu shared. “With better stamina, I could have controlled my movements and techniques more precisely and stayed more focused. But when my energy runs low, like today, it really affects my performance.”
Despite a grueling schedule that tested her endurance, Xu secured a bronze medal in the solo free event on the final day. Her coach, Shen Yingsha, praised her performance. “Her performance exceeded expectations,” Shen said, noting that this was Xu’s first time competing in multiple events.
In the solo free final, Vasilina Khandoshka topped the podium with a score of 229.8476, Germany’s Klara Bleyer took silver with 227.5688, and Xu earned bronze with 226.5251.
Having started artistic swimming at the age of seven, Xu has dedicated herself to the sport. She is now preparing extensively for next month’s World Championships. “During regular training, I practice for about eight to nine hours daily. If the session doesn’t go well, I may extend it to 10 hours,” she revealed.
As the reigning Olympic champions in both duet and team events, China is navigating a transitional period since the 2024 Paris Olympics, blending the experience of veterans with the energy of younger athletes like Xu. The team’s impressive performance at the World Cup Super Final signals a promising future for Chinese artistic swimming on the world stage.
