Swimmers splash into the water. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

The 2025–2026 International Youth Swimming Challenge was held on March 8 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Aquatics Arena, fostering sports and cultural exchange between Chinese and Australian youth while providing a global competitive platform for young swimmers.

The Hangzhou leg of the competition attracted more than 40 teams from across China, with nearly 500 athletes participating. The event featured age categories ranging from 7 to 18 years old and included a wide array of races such as freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, individual medley and relay events, testing both individual skills and team coordination.

Following the competition, six outstanding swimmers from cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Chengdu were awarded full sponsorships by the Gold Coast City's Department of Tourism and Sports. The sponsorship covers airfare, accommodation and registration fees, enabling the athletes to travel to Australia this September for advanced training and international competitions.

Organizers stated that the event aims to empower youth development and build an international exchange bridge.

Young swimmers show off their credits. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]