Chinese swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo secured a record-breaking seventh gold medal at the Asian Games on Saturday, concluding his competition in Tokyo with a standout performance in the 400-meter freestyle. The 19-year-old completed the race with a Games record time of 3 minutes, 41.28 seconds.

Zhang’s achievement surpasses previous records for the number of gold medals won by a swimmer in a single edition of the Asian Games. Prior to this, Japan’s Rikako Ikee earned six golds in 2018 in Jakarta, a feat later matched by China’s Zhang Yufei at the 2023 Games in Hangzhou. Zhang Zhanshuo’s haul includes individual titles in the 200m, 800m, and 1,500m freestyle events, in addition to three relay golds.

Reflecting on his final race, the 198 cm tall athlete described the moment he touched the wall as his most exhilarating during the competition. He maintained composure throughout the event, stating he felt "calmer than I imagined." After the race, Zhang celebrated quietly by counting each of his seven medals before expressing his focus on future challenges.

Zhang indicated that while his success at the Asian Games was significant, it was not his ultimate goal. He outlined plans to prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as well as to pursue world records, emphasizing the importance of remaining grounded and acknowledging areas requiring improvement to compete with the world’s top swimmers.

In a historic achievement for Taiwan, Wang Kuan-hung captured the nation’s first men’s swimming gold at the Asian Games by winning the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 1 minute, 55.05 seconds. Wang narrowly edged out China’s Xu Fang to secure the victory. The 24-year-old described his win as “a dream come true” and expressed gratitude and happiness over the accomplishment.