China’s best-ever World Championships performance bodes well for Rio Olympics

It was a fitting end for the hometown fans at the Bird’s Nest.

China captured two more medals on the final day of the world championships to cap an unexpectedly successful week with a record nine medals – more than double their total from Moscow two years ago.

“We won medals across the disciplines,” said Du Zhaocai, director of the Chinese athletics association. “It’s a first for us in a world-class event.”

On Sunday, Zhang Guowei won a silver medal in the men’s high jump and Lyu Huihui matched him in the women’s javelin. Competing at the same time but on opposite ends of the stadium, Zhang and Lyu had the Bird’s Nest hopping.