China's Dong surges to win men's 200m breaststroke world title

Dong Zhihao of China jumps into the water during the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

DOHA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese swimmer Dong Zhihao claimed his first individual gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships as he triumphed in the men's 200m breaststroke on Friday night.

The 18-year-old, who was in sixth place with 50 meters remaining, displayed astonishing explosive power, touching the wall first with 2 minutes and 7.94 seconds.

"This is my rhythm, and I'm quite familiar with it," he said. "But having the gold medal was beyond my expectations, I was initially aiming for the top three."

Dutch swimmer Caspar Corbeau failed to maintain the lead, falling behind by 0.3 seconds and missing out on the gold, with American Nic Fink finishing in third place.

In the women's 100m freestyle, Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands surged ahead in the final 25 meters, touching the wall first with a time of 52.26 seconds.

Siobhan Bernadette Haughey of Hong Kong, China, claimed the silver medal once again after Fukuoka 2023, with a time of 52.56 seconds. Australian Shayna Jack clinched the bronze.

Steenbergen's compatriot Tes Schouten surpassed her performance at the Fukuoka 2023, winning the women's 200m breaststroke in 2 minutes and 19.81 seconds, becoming the Netherlands' first female breaststroke world champion across any distance.

American Kate Douglass claimed the silver with a time of 2 minutes and 20.91 seconds, while Sydney Pickrem of Canada took home the bronze medal.

In the men's 200m backstroke, Spain's Hugo Gonzalez surpassed Roman Mityukov of Switzerland in the final moments, clocking in at one minute and 55.30 seconds, thus being crowned world champion for the first time in his career.

Mityukov trailed by 0.1 seconds to claim the silver, while Pieter Coetze of South Africa secured third place with a time of one minute and 55.99 seconds.

Dong Zhihao of China celebrates after winning the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

Dong Zhihao of China celebrates after winning the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Dong Zhihao of China warms up before during the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Gold medalist Dong Zhihao (C) of China, silver medalist Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands and bronze medalist Nic Fink of the United States pose during the awarding ceremony for the men's 200m breaststroke of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

Dong Zhihao of China competes during the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Dong Zhihao of China celebrates after winning the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

Dong Zhihao of China competes during the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

Silver medalist Siobhan Bernadette Haughey (L) of China's Hong Kong, gold medalist Marrit Steenbergen (C) of the Netherlands and bronze medalist Shayna Jack of Australia react after the awarding ceremony for the women's 100m freestyle of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherands competes during the women's 100m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

Gold medalist Marrit Steenbergen (C) of the Netherlands, silver medalist Siobhan Bernadette Haughey (L) of China's Hong Kong and bronze medalist Shayna Jack of Australia pose during the awarding ceremony for the women's 100m freestyle of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherands celebrates after winning the women's 100m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

Kate Douglass of the United States competes during the women's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherands competes during the women's 100m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

Adrian Jaskiewicz of Poland warms up before the men's 100m butterfly semifinal of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

Tes Schouten of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the women's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Tes Schouten of the Netherlands competes during the women's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

Gold medalist Tes Schouten (C) of the Netherlands, silver medalist Kate Douglass (L) of the United States and bronze medalist Sydney Pickrem of Canada pose after the awarding ceremony for the women's 200m breaststroke of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

Tes Schouten of the Netherlands competes during the women's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Kate Douglass of the United States competes during the women's 200m breaststroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

Roman Mityukov of Switzerland competes during the men's 200m backstroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Gold medalist Hugo Gonzalez (C) of Spain, silver medalist Roman Mityukov (L) of Switzerland and bronze medalist Pieter Coetze of South Africa pose after the awarding ceremony for the men's 200m backstroke of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

Hugo Gonzalez of Spain celebrates after winning the men's 200m backstroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

Jack Aikins of the United States competes during the men's 200m backstroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)