China’s “Lit” Gold Triumphs Ignite Social Media Buzz at Chengdu 2025 World Games

The Chengdu Games, the largest and most‑participated edition in the event’s history, opened with a string of historic Chinese victories. In the opening days, Taijiquan (Tai Chi) star Lu Zhuoling captured China’s first gold in the discipline, delivering a performance that combined fluid precision with the “unique skills” of the art form. A few hours later, karate prodigy Gong Li delivered a breakthrough in the women’s 61 kg category, defeating a Japanese opponent 5‑1 and raising the national flag in a moment that CCTV News later set to a stirring soundtrack. The win marked China’s first ever gold in karate at the World Games, and the image of the anthem swelling over the podium quickly became a viral clip, shared by outlets ranging from SKT Sports to the “Stadium Explorer” video channel.

The Games also highlighted China’s growing strength in para‑sports. A partnership of Li Yucai and Guo Ao secured the inaugural gold medal in para‑jiujitsu, a discipline making its debut at the World Games. Their triumph underscored the nation’s broader commitment to inclusive competition and added another feather to the Chinese delegation’s cap.

By the afternoon of August 15, 13:00 CST, the medal tally painted a clear picture: China led the gold‑medal board with 25 golds, complemented by seven silvers and seven bronzes. The numbers reflected not only depth across traditional strength sports such as weightlifting and gymnastics, but also a surge in newer events where Chinese athletes have been making rapid strides—speed climbing, synchronized swimming, and the aforementioned para‑disciplines.

The public response has been as vivid as the competition itself. Posts on Weibo brim with patriotic pride, with users writing “骄傲得热泪盈眶” (“proud to the point of tears”) whenever the national anthem is heard. Many celebrate specific “high‑burn” moments: Deng Lujuan’s nail‑biting victory in speed climbing, Gong Li’s historic karate gold, and Lu Zhuoling’s flawless Tai Chi display. The language of the feed is saturated with calls to “奋力拼搏” (“fight with all one’s might”) and “超越自我” (“surpass oneself”), while a popular refrain—“转发致敬每一次超越”—encourages users to repost and pay tribute to each act of transcendence.

Music, too, has played a role in amplifying the emotional resonance. Videos compiled by the “Sichuan Observer” and other media partners feature tracks from a roster of Chinese pop and rock stars—肖战, UNIQ’s 王一博, 卡布叻_周深, 摩登兄弟刘宇宁, 张杰, 任嘉伦Allen, 龚俊Simon, and 侯明昊—giving the celebratory montages a soundtrack that feels both contemporary and nationalistic.

State media have helped steer the narrative. CCTV News supplied background music for a widely shared clip of the flag‑raising ceremony, while SKT Sports and “Stadium Explorer” posted the raw footage of Gong Li’s karate final, ensuring that the moments reached audiences beyond the stadium. The coordinated coverage has turned each gold‑medal win into a media event, reinforcing the sense that the Chengdu Games were not just a sporting competition but a stage for national achievement.

As the Games drew to a close on August 17, the legacy of Chengdu’s edition was already evident: a record‑setting medal haul, historic firsts across multiple disciplines, and a digital chorus of “好燃” moments that have cemented the Chinese team’s triumph in the public imagination. Whether rendered as “The moment the Chinese team won gold at the World Games was incredibly exhilarating!” or, in a more colloquial vein, “The Chinese team’s gold‑winning moments at the World Games were so lit!” the sentiment is unmistakable—China’s athletes have delivered performances that are as inspiring as they are electrifying, and the nation’s social media landscape has made sure the world knows it.