Asian Games 2026: Chinese Swimmer Li Bingjie Pulls Five Gold Medals From Pocket in Viral Moment (WATCH)

Chinese swimmer Li Bingjie went viral at the Asian Games after casually pulling four previously won gold medals from her pocket after securing her fifth gold in the 800m freestyle. Her playful celebration amused fans and showed China’s medal strength.

The Chinese swimming star Li Bingjie stole the spotlight not only for her performance but also for flexing her five gold medals following the women’s 800m freestyle event at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday, September 25.

Li Bingjie clinched her fifth gold medal in the women’s 800m freestyle with a time of 8:24.02, while Gan Ching Hwee of Singapore took home the silver medal with a national record of 8:26.25. Japan’s Ichika Kajimoto settled for the bronze after finishing on the podium alongside them with a time of 8:27.37.

Chinese swimmer grabbed the attention of the spectators with her impressive showing across five events, including the 1500m, 800m, and 400m freestyles, and the women’s 4*100m and 4*200m freestyle relay at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Li Bingjie’s Casual Pocket Flex Steals the Show

As Chinese swimmer Li Bingjie secured her fifth gold medal at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Games, what caught the attention of spectators was not just her dominance in the pool, but a delightfully nonchalant celebration that instantly captured global attention.

In a video that went viral, Li Bingjie was seen walking ahead of bronze medalist Ichika Kajimoto of Japan following the women’s 800m freestyle medal ceremony. Kajimoto was following the Chinese swimmer and showed off her bronze medal to everyone present at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, where the swimming event took place.

However, Li Bingjie had her two hands in her sports suit pockets and casually pulled out her four previously won gold medals from the tournament, flashing them all at once, leaving her Japanese opponent apparently bemused by the playful gesture.

The Asian Games 2026 was Li Bingjie’s third appearance at the quadrennial multi-sport Asian event. In her debut at the 2018 Jakarta Games, the Chinese swimmer clinched five medals, including two gold and three silver. In the 2023 Hangzhou edition, Bingjie won six medals, including 5 gold and a silver.

Across three editions of the Asian Games, Lie Bingjie won a total of 16 medals, including 12 gold and 4 silver, making her one of China’s most successful swimmers at the continental multi-sport event.

How Did China Perform at the Asian Games 2026?

When it comes to the Asian Games, China has always been one of the heavyweight powerhouses of the regional competition, and the ongoing edition in Aichi-Nagoya is no different, as the Chinese contingent has once again dominated and outperformed its rivals across several sporting disciplines, particularly in swimming and other medal-rich events.

At the end of Day 11 of the event, China is at the top of the medal tally with 254 medals, including 143 gold, 62 silver, and 51 bronze. The swimming contingent has grabbed the most medals, with 54, including 30 golds, followed by athletics and diving with 39 and 12 podium finishes, respectively.

In the last edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, the hosts China won a historic masterclass, topping the medal table with an astonishing 201 gold, 111 silver, and 71 bronze medals for a total of 383 podium finishes.

China is expected to add more medals to the current tally as the remaining events draw to a close over the final days of the competition.