International Competition: Victory in Free Diving for China, Missed Squash Gold Opportunity for Hong Kong's Tomato Ho
China's Long Dengxi Takes Gold in Para-Freediving Event at World Games
The World Games in Chengdu, China, witnessed a thrilling victory in the men's dynamic without fins (FFS1-FFS2) event, with Long Dengxi emerging as the champion. This event is specifically designed for athletes with a certain level of physical disability, competing against others with similar impairments in a combined category.
Long Dengxi's winning swim extended to a remarkable 181.5 meters in the men's dynamic with fins event as well, showcasing his exceptional talent in para-freediving. His dominance in the sport was undeniable, as he secured two gold medals in the games.
In the women's dynamic without fins event, Huang Jingqiu from China swam an impressive distance of 149.5 meters to claim the top spot. Maria Carolina Rodriguez Angarita of Colombia finished second with a distance of 124.5 meters, while Marta Pozzi of Colombia took third place with a distance of 116 meters. Huang Jingqiu's victory in the women's event marked another significant win for Chinese para-freedivers.
The para-freediving events at the World Games employ a functional classification system, with categories denoted by classes such as FFS1 to FFS4. This system ensures fair competition by grouping athletes with different levels of physical disability. Athletes compete within these classification groups according to their physical capacity, specifically tailored for para-freediving disciplines like dynamic apnea without fins or with fins.
This classification system allows athletes with physical disabilities to compete in differentiated events appropriate to their classification level, ensuring equitable competition in the para-freediving component of the Underwater Sports program at the World Games. The international federation for underwater sports manages the exact classification details, with qualified athletes registered under these categories for the Games.
In the men's dynamic without fins (FFS1-FFS2) event, Casper Marti-Beckmann of Denmark finished third with a distance of 156.5 meters. The event was a testament to the athletes' determination and resilience, as they pushed themselves to swim underwater for as far as they could in a 50m pool without coming up for breath.
The World Games in Chengdu showcased the talent and dedication of para-freedivers from around the world, with Long Dengxi and Huang Jingqiu leading the way for China in this unique and challenging sport.
Long Dengxi's exceptional talent in para-freediving was evident as he secured two gold medals in the sport at the World Games. The para-freediving events at the World Games provide athletes with physical disabilities the opportunity to compete in differentiated events appropriate to their classification level.
