Zhang Zhanshuo Makes History With Seven Gold Medals at 2026 Asian Games
At the 20th Asian Games on September 25, 2026, 19-year-old Chinese swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo became the first swimmer in history to secure seven gold medals at a single Asian Games during competitions held at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, while regional sprinters set new records in Nagoya.
A Historic Seven-Gold Campaign in the Tokyo Pool
Standing 198 centimeters tall, Zhang claimed the men’s 400m freestyle title on Friday in a Games-record time of 3 minutes 41.28 seconds. His victory capped a dominant week in the water where China captured 30 of the 42 available swimming golds, with the global showpiece in Los Angeles less than two years away.
Zhang reflected on his historic achievement after the race. “I think the most important thing is to stay grounded and focused, because the Asian Games are not my ultimate goal,” he said.
Alongside Zhang’s historic performance, 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi secured three individual golds in record times, while Japan’s 17-year-old Shin Ohashi broke the men’s 200m breaststroke world record earlier in the week.
Record-Breaking Track Sprints in Nagoya
While swimming events took place in Tokyo, track and field events unfolded in front of empty seats in Nagoya and the wider Aichi prefecture. In the women’s 100m final, 17-year-old Chen Yujie sprinted to victory with a Games-record time of 11.06 seconds.
Chen, who turns 18 in December, shared her perspective on the milestone. “In China, it’s when we become adults. So this is the best present for my birthday, to be on the top of the Asian Games podium,” she stated.
In the men’s 100m, 20-year-old Puripol Boonson accelerated through the final quarter to win in 9.90 seconds, breaking his Games record from earlier in the evening. The victory marked Thailand’s first men’s 100m gold medal since Suchart Jairsuraparp triumphed at the 1978 Bangkok Games.
Gymnastics Triumph and Weightlifting Records
On the final evening of gymnastics competition, Filipino double Olympic champion Carlos Yulo secured the men’s vault gold to complement his floor gold won on Thursday. “I can’t believe it,” Yulo said, describing the victory as a miracle after managing considerable stress throughout the event.
Meanwhile, North Korean weightlifter Oh Kwang Ok established three world records on her way to winning the women’s 57kg bodyweight class gold. Oh lifted 104kg in the snatch and 134kg in the clean and jerk, totaling 238kg to add to North Korea’s earlier gold medals in the 49kg and 53kg categories.
In women’s basketball, South Korea defeated China 85-80 in the semi-finals, despite a 22-point performance from China’s 223cm center Zhang Ziyu. South Korea advanced to face tournament hosts Japan for the gold medal.
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