On August 24, the 2025 Canoe Sprint World Championships came to a close in Milan, Italy. Team China sent 15 athletes to compete in 16 events, finishing with 1 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze. Wang Nan clinched the gold medal in the women’s K1 200m. The two silver medals came from the men’s C2 500m and the women’s K4 500m, while the bronze medal was earned in the women’s C4 500m.

This was China’s first world championship appearance after the Paris Olympics. Wang Nan delivered the standout performance, holding off strong rivals to win the women’s K1 200m with a time of 41.46 seconds. She also teamed up with Li Dongyin, Yu Shimeng, and Wang Ji to secure silver in the women’s K4 500m with a time of 1:32.68. Additionally, she placed fifth in the women’s K1 500m. After the races, Wang said: “Every race was tough, but I felt great in each one! Despite the strong competition, I believed that staying focused on myself would bring good results—and the outcome really exceeded expectations.”

Two young paddlers born after 2000, Yu Yuebin and Yu Chenwei, rose to the challenge in the men’s C2 500m, defeating the Olympic silver medalists from Italy and bronze medalists from Spain to claim silver with a time of 1:40.60, showing tremendous potential. Yu Yuebin also placed ninth in the men’s C1 200m.

China’s women’s canoe squad also made gains. Jiang Xina, Teng Anshuo, Sun Mengya, and Ma Yanan clocked 1:47.50 to win bronze in the women’s C4 500m. In the women’s C2 500m—the event in which China won Olympic gold in Paris—Olympic champion Sun Mengya and her new partner Ma Yanan finished seventh with 1:56.61. Ma also placed fifth in the women’s C1 500m. The young pair Teng Anshuo and Jiang Xina finished eighth in the women’s C2 200m.

In other events, Zhang Dong finished eighth in the men’s K1 500m, while Wu Shengyue placed ninth in the men’s C1 1000m.