https://www.scmp.com/rss/521809/feed The latest news and top stories on World Aquatics. A prominent Lausanne, Switzerland based international governing body, World Aquatics is dedicated to overseeing aquatic sports globally. Its main areas of focus include governing swimming, diving, high diving, artistic swimming, water polo and open water swimming, organising major competitions like the World Championships, and setting rules. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee, World Aquatics, formerly FINA, promotes fair play... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com dpa dpa Australian swimming star Cameron McEvoy has decried the lack of prize money to go with breaking a world record that stood for more than 16 years as “ludicrous”. On Friday, McEvoy clocked 20.88 seconds in the 50m freestyle at the China Open, breaking a world record set by Brazilian César Cielo wearing a now-banned polyurethane suit by 0.03 seconds. “It’s crazy to think that to get a world record without a suit, and without any performance-enhancing drugs, so as a clean athlete, the bonus is zero... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347898/swimmer-cam-mcevoy-says-zero-dollars-setting-world-record-china-open-ludicrous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347898/swimmer-cam-mcevoy-says-zero-dollars-setting-world-record-china-open-ludicrous?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 02:00:13 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Chinese swimming sensation Yu Zidi has been nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award, the youngest athlete to ever receive that honour. The 13-year-old is up for the Breakthrough of the Year Award alongside the likes of NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Formula 1 champion Lando Norris. There has been recognition too for Hong Kong charity Rugby for Good in the Laureus Sport for Good category. Yu made history at the World Aquatics Championships last year, becoming the youngest swimmer to ever... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345309/chinas-teen-swimming-sensation-yu-becomes-youngest-ever-receive-laureus-nomination?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345309/chinas-teen-swimming-sensation-yu-becomes-youngest-ever-receive-laureus-nomination?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:00:16 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China dominating a diving competition is not really news, but the emergence of two teenagers has made fans sit up and take notice of the weekend’s World Cup stop in Montreal. In an event where the country’s athletes won nine gold and four silver medals, it was those secured by Jiang Linjing, 15, and Cui Jiaxi, 13, that got tongues wagging. Jiang, who rose to prominence by finishing third behind Olympic champions Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan at the 2023 National Diving Championships, took the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345096/chinese-diving-pipeline-spills-out-two-teens-already-being-hailed-future-champs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345096/chinese-diving-pipeline-spills-out-two-teens-already-being-hailed-future-champs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:59:44 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Chen Yuxi, the 20-year-old Olympic diving champion, has opened up on social media about facing online abuse, being threatened with doxxing and people trying to create a rift within the Chinese diving team. Chen also spoke out against claims that she has special “connections” in the sport through her family. The video was released on her social media accounts on Wednesday after Chen was named World Aquatics’ 2025 Female Diver of the Year earlier this month. Chen won the accolade after a return to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337834/chinese-diving-star-chen-yuxi-says-she-has-received-threats-denies-she-has-connections?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337834/chinese-diving-star-chen-yuxi-says-she-has-received-threats-denies-she-has-connections?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:59:59 +0000 Reuters Reuters The International Swimming League (ISL) has announced plans to relaunch as soon as 2026 ‌after a three-year hiatus, betting that a reshaped commercial model, stable backing and momentum from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could sustain a global, team-based competition in one of the Games’ marquee sports. ISL was first launched in 2019 with the goal of keeping swimming fans engaged beyond the Olympics by creating a season-long league with regular meets. It previously featured some of the sport’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337386/international-swimming-league-targets-2026-relaunch-after-covid-19-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337386/international-swimming-league-targets-2026-relaunch-after-covid-19-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:56:13 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport World Aquatics crowned China’s Olympic champion Chen Yuxi as its 2025 female diving athlete of the year on Wednesday, with Australia’s Cassiel Rousseau winning the men’s award. The 20-year-old Chen extended her country’s dominance in the women’s 10-metre platform, completing an unbeaten 2025 Diving World Cup circuit with seven wins, including three gold medals at the Super Final in Beijing. She carried that form into the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore over the summer, where she won... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3336810/chinas-chen-yuxi-named-female-diver-year-world-aquatics-rousseau-wins-mens-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3336810/chinas-chen-yuxi-named-female-diver-year-world-aquatics-rousseau-wins-mens-title?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:00:24 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong For years, Chen Yuxi has somewhat stood in the shadow of her superstar teammate Quan Hongchan, who burst onto the scene at just 14 with her rags-to-riches story, young age and formidable performance, offering a captivating narrative for the public. The slightly older Chen, meanwhile, despite possessing clinical precision, consistency and Olympic golds, was known as synchronised partner and rival to Quan. But on Monday night, as the 20-year-old executed her final dive to secure gold in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332359/national-games-chen-yuxi-steps-out-quan-hongchans-shadow-now-she-chinas-diving-queen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332359/national-games-chen-yuxi-steps-out-quan-hongchans-shadow-now-she-chinas-diving-queen?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:00:09 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Three days ahead of his 20th birthday, Pan Zhanle of China produced a swim at the Paris Olympics that catapulted him to Olympic gold and international attention. Pan smashed his own world record in the 100m freestyle, his time of 46.40 seconds at Paris La Defense Arena destroying his previous best of 46.8. What made Pan’s world record all the more impressive was that it came in one of what swimming experts throughout the Games said was a notoriously “slow pool”, evidenced by race times and the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332095/national-games-will-china-star-pan-zhanle-return-world-record-form-or-finish-year-flop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332095/national-games-will-china-star-pan-zhanle-return-world-record-form-or-finish-year-flop?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:15 +0000 Reuters Reuters Australia’s Fitzroy River is a step closer to hosting rowing and canoeing events at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics after passing technical testing, domestic media said on Tuesday. Known for crocodiles and strong tides, the waterway some 600 km (370 miles) north of Brisbane drew a mixed reception when it was proposed as an Olympic venue in March, because of concerns about its currents. However, Queensland state lawmaker Matt Canavan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the river had passed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3329797/crocodiles-strong-tides-no-worries-australian-river-approved-2032-olympic-rowing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3329797/crocodiles-strong-tides-no-worries-australian-river-approved-2032-olympic-rowing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Associated Press,SCMP Sport Associated Press,SCMP Sport Olympic swimmers who challenged the sport’s governing body in a US court are set to receive a multimillion-dollar settlement for athletes who took part in a breakaway series. “World Aquatics is setting up a fund of US$4.6 million that will be distributed to swimmers who signed contracts to compete at the International Swimming League [ISL] event in Turin in 2018 and in the 2019 ISL season,” the governing body said on Monday in a statement. Three Olympic and world-champion swimmers – Katinka... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3324872/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-could-be-line-share-us46-million-legal-settlement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3324872/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-could-be-line-share-us46-million-legal-settlement?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:47:21 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Hong Kong resident Shauna Krkalo stopped swimming for two decades after suffering from burnout, but returned to the pool in her forties to prove she was faster than her kids – and has broken two world records. Krkalo, who swims for the city’s Ladies Recreation Club (LRC), won six medals in Singapore last month at the World Aquatics Masters Championships, which takes place annually for age groups all the way up to 100 to 104. She won the 50 metres freestyle and breaststroke events in world record... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3324474/hong-kong-swimmer-returns-pool-after-20-years-wins-6-golds-sets-2-world-records?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3324474/hong-kong-swimmer-returns-pool-after-20-years-wins-6-golds-sets-2-world-records?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:30:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Enhanced Games has launched an anti-trust lawsuit against World Aquatics, USA Swimming and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) for up to US$800 million, alleging an illegal campaign to “crush” the event which allows athletes to use banned drugs. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses the defendants of violating the Sherman Act by pressuring athletes, coaches and support staff to boycott the Enhanced Games. Enhanced Games is seeking... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3323419/enhanced-games-sues-world-aquatics-usa-swimming-us800-million-over-crushing-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3323419/enhanced-games-sues-world-aquatics-usa-swimming-us800-million-over-crushing-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 02:22:53 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport China’s Yu Zidi said she would go away and study Summer McIntosh’s technique and hoped to one day “be as good” as the Canadian, who dominated the World Aquatics Championships. McIntosh showed why she will be one of the stars of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, but 12-year-old Yu is shaping up to be a major threat. The United States also showed that tales of their demise in Singapore were exaggerated as teams embarked on the long road to LA. Yu became the youngest medallist in world... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320642/chinese-prodigy-yu-zidi-eyes-emulating-swimming-great-summer-mcintosh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320642/chinese-prodigy-yu-zidi-eyes-emulating-swimming-great-summer-mcintosh?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 04:53:44 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell China’s 12-year-old sensation Yu Zidi had to settle for fourth on the final night of the World Aquatics Championships on Sunday as Summer McIntosh capped a brilliant few days to win the women’s 400 metres individual medley. McIntosh’s fourth gold in Singapore made the 18-year-old Canadian only the third swimmer to win five individual medals at one edition, emulating Michael Phelps and Sarah Sjostrom. It came on a day when Pan Zhanle suffered further disappointment, as China failed to reach the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320608/yu-zidi-close-medal-again-mcintosh-us-women-rule-swimming-worlds-final-night?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320608/yu-zidi-close-medal-again-mcintosh-us-women-rule-swimming-worlds-final-night?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:24:50 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau China’s Qin Haiyang returned to winning ways on Friday night as he stormed home to victory in the 200 metres breaststroke from lane eight at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Qin clocked a time of two minutes and 7.41 seconds, some two seconds off the world record time he set in Fukuoka in 2023, but enough to win his second gold medal at the championships. “Have you heard of the lane eight miracle? You saw it tonight,” said Qin of his victory. He was the only finalist to qualify... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3320498/world-aquatics-championships-qin-haiyang-bags-200m-breaststroke-gold-lane-8-miracle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3320498/world-aquatics-championships-qin-haiyang-bags-200m-breaststroke-gold-lane-8-miracle?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:24:41 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Swimming prodigy Yu Zidi has won her first medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, despite not swimming in the final of the women’s 4x200metres freestyle relay on Thursday. The 12-year-old competed in the morning heats, helping China qualify third fastest, and then watched from the side of the pool as her teammates took bronze in a time of seven minutes, 42.99 seconds. Australia claimed gold in 7:39.35, with the USA second in 7:40.01. “It feels quite emotional, it’s a nice... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320330/world-aquatics-championships-chinas-women-claim-relay-bronze-yu-gets-first-medal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320330/world-aquatics-championships-chinas-women-claim-relay-bronze-yu-gets-first-medal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:11:04 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Leon Marchand broke the world record in the 200 metres individual medley at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Wednesday, before describing the moment as “an explosion of joy”. The French Olympic champion won his semi-final in one minute and 52.69 seconds to beat the time clocked by Ryan Lochte of the United States in 2011. Besides writing a new entry in swimming’s history books, Marchand’s efforts earned him one of the US$30,000 prizes that are on offer for those setting new world... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3320178/leon-marchand-smashes-200-metres-individual-medley-world-record-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3320178/leon-marchand-smashes-200-metres-individual-medley-world-record-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:01:38 +0000 Lars Hamer,dpa Lars Hamer,dpa China’s Pan Zhanle failed to qualify for the final of the men’s 100 metres freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Wednesday. In a shock result, Pan, the Olympic champion and world record-holder, finished third in 47.81 seconds in the first semi-final. Seven of the eight swimmers in the second semi-final went faster, leaving Pan out in the cold. The result continued a poor week for the 20-year-old, who crashed out of the 200m freestyle heats on Monday. “To put it simply, I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320094/yu-fifth-fastest-200m-butterfly-heats-after-official-says-she-should-not-be-competing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320094/yu-fifth-fastest-200m-butterfly-heats-after-official-says-she-should-not-be-competing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 05:18:39 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer As China continues to dominate diving at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, one glaring omission is three-time Olympic champion Quan Hongchan. Quan was originally listed in the squad to compete at the world championships, but had to withdraw because of what she called “a serious ankle” injury. While her teammates continued the country’s long-held diving domination, picking up seven from a possible nine golds in Singapore, Quan has returned to training, vowing to come back for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320064/quan-hongchan-skipped-world-aquatics-championships-where-chinas-diving-ace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320064/quan-hongchan-skipped-world-aquatics-championships-where-chinas-diving-ace?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 04:30:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Chinese divers again won two golds in the water at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Tuesday, while Tang Qianting failed to defend her 100m breaststroke crown. The pick of diving action came in the men’s 10m platform synchronised event, when China’s Cheng Zilong and Zhu Zifeng stole first place, winning by just 0.93 points, as they claimed a total of 429.63. Neutral athletes Nikita Shleikher and Ruslan Ternovoi won silver with 428.70 points, while Americans Carson Tyler and Joshua... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320043/world-aquatics-championships-chinas-divers-win-2-more-golds-swimmers-win-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320043/world-aquatics-championships-chinas-divers-win-2-more-golds-swimmers-win-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:49:49 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Yu Zidi of China is only 12 years old and will race at the World Swimming Championships later this month in Singapore. But her age is only part of the picture. Not only is Yu very young, but her times in three events this year are also among the best in the world. And here is the kicker: those times would have been very close to medals in last year’s Paris Olympics. And she is not yet a teenager. “I think it’s a great story. I don’t know where it will lead,” said Greg Meehan, the national team... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3318639/all-eyes-chinese-swimmer-yu-zidi-12-who-takes-stunning-times-world-championships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3318639/all-eyes-chinese-swimmer-yu-zidi-12-who-takes-stunning-times-world-championships?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 23:00:10 +0000 Reuters,Agence France-Presse Reuters,Agence France-Presse Germany’s Florian Wellbrock won the men’s 10km open water race at the world championships in Singapore on Wednesday after the race had been postponed for several hours because of poor water quality. Wellbrock, the gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, won his third open water world title in a time of one hour, 59 minutes, 55.50 seconds at the Sentosa Island course after the race finally began at 1pm. “It was really tough today. I think it was the warmest waters that we’ve had to race... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3318367/world-aquatics-championships-sea-races-back-singapore-after-water-quality-delays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3318367/world-aquatics-championships-sea-races-back-singapore-after-water-quality-delays?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 02:45:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The women’s 10km (6.2-mile) open water race at the world swimming championships in Singapore has been postponed because of poor water quality, governing body World Aquatics said on Tuesday. A review of the course at Sentosa Island found water quality levels “exceeding acceptable thresholds”, with organisers making the decision to postpone “in the utmost interest of athlete safety”. The women’s 10km race was set to take place on Tuesday morning but has been pushed back to Wednesday, when the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3318259/singapores-poor-water-quality-causes-waves-world-swim-meet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3318259/singapores-poor-water-quality-causes-waves-world-swim-meet?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 07:06:12 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Drug-testing Chinese swimmers more often than those of other nations at the World Aquatics Championships was based on risk assessments by an independent anti-doping body, a senior swimming official has told the Post. The International Testing Agency (ITA) – a not-for-profit foundation that runs anti-doping programmes for events and federations – made the assessments of teams as they prepared for the championships held in Singapore, which run from Friday until August 3. A total of 4,018... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3317745/chinese-swimmers-tested-most-based-independent-risk-assessments-says-global-body?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3317745/chinese-swimmers-tested-most-based-independent-risk-assessments-says-global-body?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:00:54 +0000