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Zhu Jiadong paddles with great determination during the race. [Photo/Provided to Tide News]

The 2026 Asian Canoe Sprint Swimming Championships and Los Angeles Olympic Qualification Points Event concluded on April 26 in Hefei city, Anhui province. As the highest-level competition in Asia for the canoe sprint, this event also served as a qualification points race for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The three-day competition featured nearly 300 athletes from 20 countries and regions. The event encompassed the two main categories of kayaking and canoeing, with a total of 26 events across men's, women's, and mixed divisions.

Zhu Jiadong, a 24-year-old athlete from Shaoxing Keqiao, competed in the men's single canoe 5,000-meter event. This race demands high levels of stamina management, rhythm control, and tactical skills. During the competition, Zhu remained composed, maintaining a steady pace in the first half and accelerating in the final stretch to sprint across the finish line. He clinched the gold medal in this event, earning Olympic qualification points for Team China for the Los Angeles Olympics.