China’s Synchronized Swimming Team Gears Up for World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup in Xi’an
XI’AN, China — With less than three days until the opening whistle, China’s national artistic swimming team has descended on Xi’an for the third leg of the 2026 World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup. The event, set to commence on May 1 at the Xi’an Olympic Sports Center, marks a pivotal moment for the squad as it navigates a new Olympic cycle with a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars.
The World Cup stop in Xi’an is more than just another competition—it’s a homecoming of sorts. Last June, the Chinese team dominated the same venue during the 2025 World Cup Finals, securing an impressive 7 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze medal, a performance that cemented its status as a global powerhouse in the sport. This year, the stakes are higher, the rules have evolved, and the team is under pressure to prove it can maintain its dominance amid a generational shift.
“We’re treating this like a final exam,” head coach Zhang Xiaohuan told reporters during a pre-competition press briefing on Monday. “The new rules demand more athleticism, more creativity, and more precision. Our athletes have spent months refining their routines, but the real test begins when the music starts.” Zhang, a former Olympic medalist herself, has been at the helm of the Chinese team since 2021, guiding it through a period of unprecedented success.
A New Era: Youth Meets Experience
The 2026 season has ushered in a wave of change for China’s artistic swimming program. Following the Paris Olympics, the team has undergone a deliberate transition, integrating younger athletes into the senior ranks. At the Paris World Cup stop in March, 12 of the 15 Chinese competitors made their debut on the senior international stage, a bold move that yielded 2 gold and 1 silver medal. Although the results were promising, the experience gap was evident—particularly under the sport’s revised scoring system, which now places greater emphasis on technical difficulty and synchronization.
For the Xi’an stop, the team has adopted a “new-old blend” strategy. Veteran swimmers like Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, who have anchored the team’s success over the past three years, will compete alongside newcomers such as Zhang Yiyao and Feng Yu, both of whom made their senior debuts in Paris. The approach aims to balance the composure of experienced athletes with the energy and innovation of the next generation.
“The veterans set the tone,” said Zhang Xiaohuan. “They’ve been through the pressure of major competitions, and they know how to handle the mental side of the sport. The younger swimmers bring fresh ideas and fearlessness. Together, they push each other to be better.”
Iconic Routines Return with a Twist
One of the most anticipated aspects of the Xi’an World Cup is the return of China’s signature routines, “Terracotta Warriors” (《秦俑魂》) and “Monkey King” (《悟空》). Both performances, which blend Chinese cultural motifs with athletic artistry, have been staples of the team’s repertoire for years. This season, however, they’ve undergone significant upgrades to align with the new judging criteria.
“Terracotta Warriors,” in particular, has been reimagined to incorporate more dynamic lifts and faster transitions, reflecting the sport’s shift toward higher-intensity choreography. The routine, which draws inspiration from the famous Terracotta Army of Xi’an, has long been a crowd favorite, and its return to the city where the ancient relics were unearthed adds a layer of symbolic significance. Meanwhile, “Monkey King” has been refined to highlight the team’s technical precision, with sharper formations and more intricate underwater sequences.
“These routines are part of our identity,” said Wang Liuyi, a key performer in both programs. “When we perform ‘Terracotta Warriors’ in Xi’an, it’s like bringing history to life. The audience connects with it on a deeper level, and that gives us an extra boost of motivation.”
Rule Changes Reshape the Competition
The 2026 season introduced sweeping changes to the judging system in artistic swimming, the most significant overhaul in a decade. Under the new rules, technical merit now accounts for 60% of the total score, up from 50% in previous years, while artistic impression makes up the remaining 40%. This shift has forced teams to rethink their strategies, prioritizing difficulty and execution over purely aesthetic elements.
For China, the adjustment has been both a challenge and an opportunity. The team has historically excelled in artistic expression, but the new scoring system demands a more balanced approach. During the Paris stop, the Chinese squad struggled with deductions in the technical segments, particularly in the mixed duet and team free routines. In Xi’an, the focus has been on tightening synchronization, improving underwater endurance, and minimizing execution errors.
“The new rules favor teams that can combine power with grace,” said Marina Roschina, a former Russian artistic swimmer and current international judge. “China has always had the creativity, but now they need to match it with the physicality. If they can do that, they’ll be nearly unbeatable.”
The Road Ahead: A Season of High Stakes
The Xi’an stop is the third of four legs in the 2026 World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup series. The first two stops—in Bogotá, Colombia, and Paris, France—set the stage for a fiercely competitive season, with teams from Russia, Spain, and Japan also vying for podium finishes. The final stop will take place in Barcelona, Spain at the finish of May, followed by the World Cup Finals in Toronto, Canada in mid-June.
For China, the immediate goal is to build momentum ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The team’s performance in Xi’an will serve as a critical benchmark, offering insights into its readiness for the Games. With the new rules in place and a younger roster stepping into the spotlight, the pressure is on—but so is the potential for greatness.
“This is a transitional year for us,” Zhang Xiaohuan admitted. “We’re not just competing for medals. we’re laying the foundation for the next Olympic cycle. Every routine, every score, every moment in the pool is a step toward Los Angeles.”
What to Watch in Xi’an
The 2026 World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup (Xi’an stop) will feature three days of competition, with events spanning solo, duet, mixed duet, and team routines. Here’s what fans can expect:
- May 1 (Opening Day): Technical routines in the team and duet categories. China is expected to debut its upgraded “Terracotta Warriors” routine in the team technical segment.
- May 2: Free routines, including the highly anticipated mixed duet event, which debuted at the Olympic level in 2024. China’s mixed duet team, led by Shi Haoyu and Zhang Yiyao, will aim to improve on its Paris performance.
- May 3 (Final Day): Highlight routines, including the team free combination, where China’s “Monkey King” is likely to make its first appearance. The day will conclude with the medal ceremonies.
Tickets for the event are still available through the World Aquatics official website and local vendors. For those unable to attend in person, the competition will be broadcast live on CCTV-5 and streamed internationally via the World Aquatics TV platform.
Looking Beyond Xi’an
As the Chinese team prepares to take the stage in Xi’an, the broader implications of this competition extend far beyond the pool. Artistic swimming, long overshadowed by more mainstream Olympic sports, has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, thanks in part to the inclusion of mixed-gender events and the sport’s growing visibility on social media. For China, success in Xi’an could further elevate its profile and inspire a new generation of athletes.
“This sport is about more than just swimming,” said Wang Qianyi. “It’s about storytelling, about culture, about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the water. When we perform, we’re not just representing ourselves—we’re representing our country, our history, and our future.”
The next milestone for the Chinese team will come at the end of May, when it travels to Barcelona for the final World Cup stop before the season-ending finals in Toronto. Until then, all eyes will be on Xi’an, where the “water warriors” of China aim to make a splash.
What do you think of China’s chances at the 2026 World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup? Will the new rules favor the team’s strengths, or will the competition catch up? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow World Today Journal’s sports coverage for the latest updates from Xi’an and beyond.