China's Li Bingjie shatters Asian record at Tokyo Olympics

CGTN

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China's Zhang Yufei (L), Canada's Margaret MacNeil (C) and Australia's Emma McKeon pose at the podium after the women's 100m butterfly swimming final at Tokyo Aquatics Center in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2021. /CFP

Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei won the silver medal in the women's 100-meter butterfly event at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday, while Margaret MacNeil of Canada clinched the gold – the country's first Olympic medal in Tokyo – and Australian veteran Emma McKeon claimed the bronze medal.

MacNeil won her first world title during the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championships in 2019.

Zhang Yufei of China competes during the women's 100m butterfly final at Tokyo Aquatics Center in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2021. /CFP

The 21-year-old Canadian touched home first in 55.59 seconds to win her maiden Olympic medal.

Zhang, finishing first in the semifinals, settled for a silver in 55.64 seconds. McKeon, who finished eighth at Rio 2016, took a bronze 0.08 seconds further behind.

Kathleen Ledecky (L) of Team USA, Ariarne Titmus of Australia and Li Bingjie (R) of China pose at the podium after their women's 400m freestyle final at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2021. /CFP

Later in the day, China's Li Bingjie broke the Asian record and claimed the Olympic 400m freestyle bronze medal in a hard-fought contest.

The 19-year-old hit the wall in 4:01.08, with Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus clinching the gold in 3:56.69. American veteran Katie Ledecky failed to recapture her top form in Tokyo as the world record holder finished second in 3:57.36.

Team USA won the men's 4X100m freestyle relay in 3:08.97, the third-fastest relay in history. Italy took the silver in 3:10.11, with the bronze going to Australia in 3:10.22.