This children’s article, China win big at the World Aquatics Championships 2025, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about international sports events, and understand how medal tables work. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.
China make a splash in Singapore
The 2025 World Aquatics Championships took place in Singapore from the 11th of July to the 3rd of August, and once again, China came out on top. This huge international event included competitions in swimming, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, water polo, and high diving.
China’s athletes impressed in almost every category. Their strongest performances were in diving and artistic swimming, where they won many gold medals. By the end of the week, China had won a total of 33 medals, including 15 golds, which put them at the top of the overall medal table.
Who else did well?
Australia had a strong championship too, managing to win 23 medals in total, which helped them take second place in the final medal table.
The United States came third, winning medals in nearly every category, especially in swimming, where they won more medals than any other country.
A standout moment came from 12-year-old Yu Zidi of China. She became the youngest-ever medallist in the championships by swimming in the heats for the 4×200m freestyle relay, earning her a bronze medal even though she didn’t swim in the final.
Over 10 new records were broken during the event, including three world records!
This was the first time Singapore hosted the World Aquatics Championships, and fans, athletes, and organisers all agreed it was a huge success.
What’s next?
The next World Aquatics Championships will take place in Budapest, Hungary, in 2027. Until then, many of these athletes will be training hard and preparing for the next big challenge, the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Article vocabulary list
- Aquatics – sports done in or on water
- Diving – jumping into water while doing flips or twists
- Artistic swimming – swimming in patterns to music, like a dance in the water
- Open water swimming – swimming long distances in rivers, lakes, or the sea
- Podium finishes – placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a competition
- Freestyle – a fast swimming style, often the front crawl
- Hosted – held or organised an event in a place
- Thrilling – very exciting
- Tense – nervous or filled with pressure
- Championships – a large competition to find the best in the world
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. Where did the 2025 World Aquatics Championships take place?
A) Singapore
B) Australia
C) Budapest
Answer: A) Singapore
2. How many total medals did China win?
A) 23
B) 33
C) 15
Answer: B) 33
3. Which country finished second in the medal table?
A) USA
B) Australia
C) Hungary
Answer: B) Australia
4. When and where will the next World Aquatics Championships be held?
A) 2027 in Budapest
B) 2028 in Los Angeles
C) 2026 in Paris
Answer: A) 2027 in Budapest
5. Who won the most swimming medals?
A) Singapore
B) Australia
C) USA
Answer: C) USA
Mark is a writer and EFL teacher from England with eight years’ experience. He’s passionate about travel, sport (especially football), animals, nature, and history, and enjoys helping children explore the world through language and learning.
