Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Zhang Zhanshuo Sets Asian Games Swimming Gold Record
Zhang Zhanshuo is a 19-year-old swimmer from China.
He won seven gold medals at the Asian Games, which is a record for a swimmer at one edition of the event.
He won individual freestyle races and helped China win relay races.
His final gold came in the 400-meter freestyle, where he set a Games record.
China won most of the swimming gold medals.
Other young swimmers, including Yu Zidi and Shin Ohashi, also performed very well.
Carlos Edriel Yulo of the Philippines won a second gymnastics gold medal.
Japan also surprised China by winning the men’s team table tennis final.
China’s women’s table tennis team later beat Japan to win its sixth straight team gold.
Nineteen-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo became the first swimmer to win seven gold medals at one Asian Games.
Zhang won the 200m, 400m and 1,500m freestyle events plus three relays and the 400m freestyle final.
China won 30 of 41 swimming golds, while Japan finished with seven titles.
Carlos Edriel Yulo won the Philippines’ second gymnastics gold, taking the men’s vault title.
Japan defeated China 3-2 in men’s team table tennis, ending China’s run of victories in the event since 1990.
- Who
- Chinese swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo, along with athletes from China, Japan, the Philippines and other Asian countries.
- What
- Zhang won a record seven swimming gold medals; the Games also featured a gymnastics victory by Carlos Edriel Yulo and Japan’s table tennis upset over China.
- When
- During the Asian Games, with Zhang’s final gold won in the 400m freestyle final.
- Where
- At the Asian Games swimming, gymnastics and table tennis competitions.
- Why
- Zhang’s performances strengthened China’s swimming dominance, while Japan’s table tennis victory ended China’s long-standing men’s team winning streak.
China’s Continuing Dominance
Rivals’ Breakthroughs
Swimming supremacy
China’s Continuing Dominance
Zhang Zhanshuo’s seven golds and China’s 30 swimming titles demonstrated the country’s strength in the pool.
Rivals’ Breakthroughs
Japan won seven swimming titles, while young athletes such as Shin Ohashi and Yu Zidi showed that emerging rivals can challenge established competitors.
Table tennis momentum
China’s Continuing Dominance
China’s women won their sixth consecutive team gold, preserving its dominance in that competition.
Rivals’ Breakthroughs
Japan’s men defeated China 3-2, ending China’s run of men’s team titles since 1990 and giving Tomokazu Harimoto confidence that Japan could beat China.
Future ambitions
China’s Continuing Dominance
Zhang said the Asian Games was not his ultimate goal and that he was targeting the Olympics and competition against the world’s best.
Rivals’ Breakthroughs
Other athletes also produced breakthrough performances, including Carlos Edriel Yulo’s second gymnastics gold and Japan’s upset in table tennis.
- Zhang’s total
- Seven gold medals
- Record race
- 400m freestyle in 3:41.28, a Games record
- China swimming haul
- 30 golds out of 41 pool events
- Japan swimming haul
- Seven golds
- Gymnastics winner
- Carlos Edriel Yulo won the men’s vault after also winning floor exercise
- Table tennis result
- Japan defeated China 3-2 in the men’s team final
- Women’s table tennis
- China defeated Japan 3-0 for its sixth consecutive team gold