This combo photo shows Kristian Axel Erik Kron of Sweden (L) and Niu Xiaoxiao of China (R), winners of the 44th International Yangtze River Crossing competition. (Photo source/ctdsb.net)
(ECNS) - A Chinese student and a man from Sweden won the titles of the 44th International Yangtze River Crossing Activity held in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province on Monday.
A total of 74 participants joined the competition, including 30 foreigners from Sweden, Russia, Britain, the United States and other countries.
The annual sports event marks Chairman Mao Zedong's swim across the Yangtze River at Wuhan on July 16, 1966.
The race was divided into individual and team races, with the distance of the individual race about 1,800 meters from Hanyangmen in Wuchang District to Nan'anzui in Hanyang District.
Niu Xiaoxiao of China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, born in 1997, won the women’s individual championship at 15 minutes 15 seconds and Kristian Axel Erik Kron of Sweden won the men's title at 12 minutes and 17 seconds, 7 seconds faster than the record he set last year. Both will receive an award of $20,000.
Niu, who also participated in the race last year, said the water flow was much faster than last year and she won due to her greater experience.
The distance of the team race is about 6,000 meters from Hanyangmen in Wuchang to Sanyang Square in Hankou. The event drew 4,364 people in 47 teams, including 16 from other cities.
The organizing committee also formed a university student team to showcase a campaign to attract one million graduates to work or start up a business in Wuhan. The competition also attracted a team in support of Xiong’an New Area, which spans three counties in Hebei Province about 100 km southwest of Beijing.
