"Life Race" Unfolds in World Games Lifesaving Event

On August 6, at the Sancha Lake Campus of Chengdu Sport University, the lifeguard event judging panel conducted on-site research of the competition rules and inspected the venue and equipment. Photo by Xiang Yu, All-Media Reporter for Sichuan Daily

Towing a dummy, one-handed swimming strokes... August 8In the afternoonThe Chengdu World Games lifesaving competition in swimming took place at the Sancha Lake Campus of Chengdu Sport University. This eventThe swimming pool lifesaving event features 16 individual disciplines, with the competition spanning two days. A total of 120 athletes will participate—60 men and 60 women.

In the World Games, lifesaving competitions require the use of water-filled dummies weighing 40–45 kilograms. These events include underwater retrieval, towing rescue techniques (while keeping the dummy’s head above water), and practical scenarios like obstacle swimming. Compared to regular swimming events, lifesaving competitions take place in deeper pools—ranging from 2.2 to 3 meters—and some disciplines even mandate the use of flippers or buoys. In contrast, standard swimming focuses solely on speed, with no requirements for added weight or rescue maneuvers. Lifesaving events directly train lifeguards for real-world emergency situations, combining both competitive spirit and practical skills.

The lifesaving program originated in 18th- and 19th-century Europe, evolving from simple rescue operations into a competitive sport before being introduced to China in 1998.

At the competition site, reporters observed athletes demonstrating a variety of lifesaving and competitive skills in different events—such as underwater retrieval of mannequins and towing them using buoys. After being filled with water and weighted appropriately, the mannequins can weigh around 40 kilograms, accurately simulating the weight, buoyancy, and even the tactile sensations of a real human body. Each swift turn and decisive dive by the athletes puts their physical stamina and explosive power to the ultimate test.

In the eight events held that day, athletes broke world records multiple times.In the men's and women's 100-meter mixed lifesaving competition, which took place first, Polish male athlete Maciej Kasieperek and German female athlete Nina Holt each clinched the gold medal with world-record-breaking times—Kasieperek clocked in at 57.64 seconds, while Holt finished in 1 minute 3.69 seconds.

After the race began, Holt from Heat 4 took an early lead right after diving into the water. By the 50-meter turn, she was already clocking 27.11 seconds, and in the final 50 meters, she continued to extend her advantage even further. When she touched the wall, she finished a full 5 seconds ahead of her teammate—who was second—and, in the process, shattered her own world record set last year at the World Championships by an impressive 2.06 seconds. This victory marked Holt’s first gold medal of the Games and also secured Germany’s inaugural gold for their delegation at the event.

At the 2022 World Games held in Birmingham, USA, Holt emerged as one of the standout athletes of the event. At just 19 years old, she claimed four gold medals and one bronze—remarkably, she even set a world record in the buoy rescue relay race. As a result, she was awarded the title of Best Lifesaving Athlete at that year's competition.

At the Chengdu World Games, Holt will also compete in the women's 50-meter dummy rescue event and the three-event relay competition.

In the subsequent men's 100-meter mixed lifesaving competition, Kacper staged a stunning comeback after the 50-meter turn to clinch the gold, improving the previous world record by 0.02 seconds and securing Poland's first-ever gold medal at these World Games.

In the women's and men's 4x50-meter pool lifesaving relay finals, the German and Italian teams respectively claimed victory and broke the world record.

□ Sichuan Daily All-Media Reporter: Fan Ruiling