Xu Jiayu

In this Chinese name, the family name is Xu.

Xu Jiayu (Chinese: 徐嘉余; pinyin: Xú Jiāyú; born 19 August 1995) is a Chinese competitive swimmer who specializes in the backstroke. He is the Olympic Silver medalist (2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2024 Paris) and twice consecutive world champion (2017 Budapest and 2019 Gwangju) in the 100 meters backstroke.

Xu Jiayu

Xu at the 2014 Asian Games
Personal information
Full name	徐嘉余 Xu Jiayu
Nationality	Chinese
Born	(1995-08-19) 19 August 1995 (age 29) Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
Height	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Weight	78 kg (172 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Backstroke
College team	Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Medal record Men's swimming Representing  China International aquatics competitions Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 1 4 0 World Championships (LC) 3 2 2 World Championships (SC) 0 1 2 Asian Games 11 2 1 Asian Swimming Championships 5 1 1 Total 20 10 6 Olympic Games 2024 Paris 4x100 m medley 2016 Rio de Janeiro 100 m backstroke 2020 Tokyo 4×100 m mixed medley 2024 Paris 100 m backstroke 2024 Paris 4×100 m mixed medley World Championships (LC) 2017 Budapest 100 m backstroke 2019 Gwangju 100 m backstroke 2023 Fukuoka 4×100 m mixed medley 2023 Fukuoka 4×100 m medley 2025 Singapore 4×100 m mixed medley 2017 Budapest 4×100 m mixed medley 2023 Fukuoka 50 m backstroke World Championships (SC) 2018 Hangzhou 100 m backstroke 2016 Windsor 100 m backstroke 2018 Hangzhou 4×200 m freestyle Asian Games 2014 Incheon 4×100 m medley 2018 Jakarta 50 m backstroke 2018 Jakarta 100 m backstroke 2018 Jakarta 200 m backstroke 2018 Jakarta 4×100 m medley 2018 Jakarta 4×100 m mixed medley 2022 Hangzhou 50 m backstroke 2022 Hangzhou 100 m backstroke 2022 Hangzhou 200 m backstroke 2022 Hangzhou 4 × 100 m medley 2022 Hangzhou 4×100 m mixed medley 2014 Incheon 100 m backstroke 2014 Incheon 200 m backstroke 2014 Incheon 50 m backstroke

Early and personal life

Xu was born in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. His mother Yu Zhenzhen (余珍珍) is a former swimmer who specialized in the butterfly.^[2] He has an elder sister Xu Si (徐思).^[3][4]

Xu started swimming at the age of 4 under his mother's guidance.^[5]

Xu is an alumnus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.^[6]

Swimming career

Olympic Games

Xu during the 2017 World Aquatics Championships

Xu competed for China at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and won a silver medal in the 100 metre backstroke at the 2016 Summer Olympics.^[7][8] He also won a silver medal in the 4x100 mixed medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics and another silver medal in the 100 metre backstroke at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He won his first gold medal in the 4 × 100 metre medley relay at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Xu is the current national record holder in backstroke races in all distances (50, 100, and 200 metres).^[9][10] He held the world record in the 100 m backstroke short course from 2018 to 2020.

International Competitions

Xu and his teammates in the front row at the 2014 Asian Games

At the 2014 Asian Games, Xu, Ning Zetao, Li Zhuhao and Li Xiang teamed up to win the men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay.^[11] Individually, Xu received silver medals in the 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke. While also receiving a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke.

At the 2016 short course World Championships, Xu won the bronze medal in the 100 metre backstroke.^[12]

At the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, Xu became the first male Chinese swimmer to win gold in the 100m backstroke in a time of 52.44 seconds. He also received the bronze medal as a part of the mixed medley relay.

At the 2018 Asian Games, Xu received six gold medals. He swept the backstroke events and was part of the Asian record setting mixed and men medley relays.^[13][14]

At the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, Xu successfully defended his 100m backstroke title with a time of 52.43 seconds. Xu also placed sixth in the 50m backstroke.

Career best times

Long course (50-meter pool)

Event	Time	Meet	Date	Note(s)
50 m backstroke	24.38[15]	2022 Hangzhou Asian Games	25 September 2023	NR
100 m backstroke	51.86[16]	2017 Chinese Championships	12 April 2017	AR
200 m backstroke	1:53.99[17]	2018 Asian Games	23 August 2018	NR
4 × 200 m freestyle relay	7:04.74[18]	2019 World Aquatics Championships	26 July 2019	NR
4 × 100 m medley relay	3:27.01[19]	2022 Hangzhou Asian Games	26 September 2023	AR
4 × 100 m mixed medley relay	3:38.41[20]	2020 Chinese Championships	1 October 2020	WR

Short course (25-meter pool)

Event	Time	Meet	Date	Note(s)
50 m backstroke	22.70[21]	2018 FINA Swimming World Cup	3 November 2018	AR
100 m backstroke	48.88[22]	2018 FINA Swimming World Cup	11 November 2018	WR
200 m backstroke	1:48.32[23]	2018 FINA Swimming World Cup	9 November 2018	NR
4 × 200 m freestyle relay	6:47.53[24]	2018 FINA World Swimming Championships	14 December 2018	AR
4×50m medley relay	1:33.95[25]	2016 FINA World Swimming Championships	10 December 2016	NR
4 × 100 m medley relay	3:26.87[26]	2016 FINA World Swimming Championships	11 December 2016	NR
4×50m mixed medley relay	1:38.69[27]	2018 FINA Swimming World Cup	4 November 2018	NR

Key: WR = World Record, AR = Asian Record, NR = National Record