31-Year-Old Xu Jiayu Rips Asian Record In SCM 100 Backstroke (Video)

2026 CHINESE SC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• October 23rd – October 28th
• Beijing, China
• SCM (25m)
• Results via Asian media

The 2026 Chinese Short Course National Championships got underway this week at the Water Cube in Beijing, China. Swimmers are vying for slots on the nation’s roster for this year’s Short Course World Championships, also being hosted in Beijing.

Not wasting any time making his presence known was Olympic medalist Xu Jiayu, with the 31-year-old dynamo ripping a new lifetime best, Chinese national and Asian continental record in the men’s 100m backstroke.

Xu unleashed a time of 48.77 on his way to gold, clocking the sole time of the domestic field under the 50-second barrier.

Huang Zichun was next to the wall in 50.40, followed by Wang Gukailai who rounded out the podium in 50.79.

As for Xu, his performance this evening overtook his own former Asian standard of 48.88 he established during the 2018 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.

Xu’s 48.77 now renders him the 7th-fastest man in history.

Xu’s career is experiencing a resurgence of sorts, with the veteran topping the men’s 50m back and 100m back podiums at this year’s Asian Games. His resume boasts five Olympic medals, three world titles and a total of 14 Asian Games gold medals.

He currently ranks #1 in the world in both the LCM 50 back (24.04) and 100 back (51.98) and his time tonight ranks him #2 in the world behind South Africa’s Pieter Coetze.

🇨🇳徐嘉余 Xu Jiayu
SCM 100Ba 48.77 AR

He just broke his own Asian Record after 8 years🔥🔥 https://t.co/mgDiaq684q

— 競泳NEWS (@swimcoverage) October 24, 2026