The 2025 World Aquatics Championships recently took place in Singapore. Xu Huiyan, a member of China Artistic Swimming Team and a 2023 student at the School of Sports Training of Wuhan Sports University (WHSU), delivered a stellar performance, clinching 4 golds and 1 silver.

On July 19, Xu claimed her first gold in the women’s solo technical routine with a mesmerizing performance set to “Wang Xiang Si (Forgetting the Longing).” This victory marked not only China’s first gold of the tournament but also a historic milestone—the country’s first-ever world title in this event. Her routine was a flawless display of precision, fluidity, and artistic mastery, embodying the grace of oriental aesthetics in “water ballet.”

On July 22, Xu earned a silver in the women’s solo free routine. She also contributed to team successes, securing gold in the team free routine (July 20), team technical routine (July 22), and the final team acrobatic routine (July 25).

Fresh off her win at the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup Final earlier this year, Xu entered the championships as a top contender. While external expectations weighed on her, they also fueled her determination. During preliminaries, she adapted swiftly to the unfamiliar pool conditions and cooler water temperature, delivering a high-caliber performance. In the finals, she remained composed and consistent against tough competition. "I felt nervous before stepping on deck, but once I started, I found my rhythm," she shared.

At the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships, the then-rookie Xu won bronze in the same event. Returning a year later, she displayed greater composure. “In Doha, I was just focusing on completing each move. Now, when I dive in, the water feels like my domain,” she shared. At just 20, Xu has rapidly risen as a pillar of China’s artistic swimming team.

As the artistic swimming events concluded, let’s applaud the athletes’ achievements! With other competitions in full swing, join us in cheering for all competitors and Team China!