China swimmer makes Asian Games history as Thai sprinter wins track 100m

China’s Zhang Zhanshuo, 19, became the first swimmer to win seven golds at a single Asian Games.Published On 25 Sep 202625 Sep 2026Towering teenager Zhang Zhanshuo became the first swimmer in history to win seven golds at a single Asian Games, while on the track, Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson powered to victory in the 100m.China’s Zhang, 19, scorched to the men’s 400m freestyle title in the pool in Tokyo on Friday in a Games-record three minutes and 41.28 seconds.He sat on the lane divider after the race and slowly counted off on his fingers all seven medals he had won.Zhang also won individual golds in the 200m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle events, as well as three relays.He said, after wrapping up a scintillating campaign, that it had been the “perfect week”.“I think the most important thing is to stay grounded and focused, because the Asian Games are not my ultimate goal,” said Zhang, who stands 198cm (six feet, six inches).With the Los Angeles Olympics less than two years away, China won 30 of the 42 golds in the pool this week.Their 13-year-old phenomenon Yu Zidi was the undoubted superstar, taking home three individual golds and all in Games-record times.Not to be outdone, Japan...