2026 CHINESE SC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- October 23rd – October 28th
- Beijing, China
- SCM (25m)
- Live Results
The 2026 Chinese Short Course National Championships were lights out tonight, with multiple records going down at the Water Cube in Beijing.
Among them was a mixed medley relay Asian Record at the hands of Zhejiang Shouxian Valley, with 31-year-old Xu Jiayu lowering his only days-old Asian Record as the backstroke leadoff.
Xu ripped a lifetime best of 48.54 to position his squad ahead of the field. That performance shaved .17 off the 48.77 he established earlier in the competition. Prior to these championships, the Olympic medalist’s career boasted a best-ever mark of 48.88, which he established during the 2018 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.
Xu’s 48.54 now renders him the 5th-fastest man in history.
Top 5 Men’s SCM 100 Backstroke Performers All-Time
- Hubert Kos (HUN) – 48.16, 2025
- Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 48.21, 2026
- Coleman Stewart (USA) – 48.33, 2021
- Ryan Murphy (USA) – 48.50, 2022
- Xu Jiayu (CHN) – 48.54, 2026
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 48.54 ARXu does it again… AGAIN! 🐢🔥💪 https://t.co/a91JtJvZ1q
— 競泳NEWS (@swimcoverage) October 27, 2026
After Xu’s lead-off, Xie Yichen hit 57.27, followed by Lu Yue‘s time of 57.49 ,with Liu Yaxin with a 52.70 anchor for a new 3:36.00 Asian Record.
