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11 August 2023 – Chengdu

Looking back at Chengdu 2021

The 31st FISU World University Games closed on August 8, 2023, at Open Air Music Park of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province. A total of 6,500 athletes from 113 countries and regions have competed in 269 events across 18 sports. FISU records were broken 22 times during the 12-day competitions. Following Beijing in 2001 and Shenzhen in 2011, Chengdu has become the third city in the Chinese mainland to host the biennial Summer FISU Games.

The closing ceremony featured a gala performance "Dreams: Lighting Up the Future" which demonstrated originally-made songs and dances, receiving enthusiastic applause from the spectators. FISU Acting President Leonz Eder highly praised the organizational work of the Chengdu FISU Games, saying "On the very beginning of our journey in China, we have been embraced with warmth and hospitality that words cannot fully express. We are truly grateful for the support of the Chengdu 2021 Organizing Committee, the Federation of University Sports of China, the Government of People's Republic of China, Sichuan Province, and the city and the people of Chengdu."

©Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games

The 411-athlete Chinese delegation, with more than half of these student-athletes selected through national trials, has collected 178 medals including 103 golds. The medal table inked the names of 53 countries and regions, including 35 who won at least one gold medal. Chinese female swimmer Zhang Yufei became the most prolific athlete at the FISU Games by taking nine gold medals in all of her events.

©Arndt Falter

Huge success for the German team

With 160 athletes and 75 officials, Germany sent the historically largest delegation to the FISU World University Games. The Games were a huge success for the German team, which was represented in 14 of 18 sports. The German student athletes won 24 medals in total, with four gold, eight silver, and twelve bronze. On top of that, they also made it to the top eight in 38 other events. The fact that the German team was younger than ever before, with an average age of 22.2 years, further enhances the above figures.

©Arndt Falter

A special top-class sporting event

Sophie Scheder, silver medallist on uneven bars, reflects: "I always wanted to compete at the World University Games because I had heard so many positive things about the Games. Here in Chengdu, the Olympic spirit could be felt everywhere and the level of performance and the idea of achieving big results was very high. Nevertheless, the atmosphere was very relaxed. It was super fun to be part of the German team and to support the younger team members as an experienced athlete."

©Arndt Falter

"Students from 113 nations experienced the great hospitality of the volunteers and the local organising committee at the FISU World University Games in Chengdu," - said Jörg Förster, Head of the German Delegation at the FISU Games in Chengdu. "We are already looking forward to, as hosts of the upcoming Games, the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, to bring the Olympic principles of fair play, tolerance and friendship to life for top student athletes, officials and guests from all over the world in Germany."

©Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games

Re-live the Games

See you in two years at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games in Germany!