The Luofu Palace Dragon Boat Team from Foshan's Shunde, China, secured a gold medal in the premier men's 2000-meter turning race at the 17th World Dragon Boat Championships on July 15.
Representing China in the elite open category, the 22-member crew completed the course on Lake Beetz in Brandenburg with a significant margin over rivals from Canada and Germany.
Competing against teams from 12 countries and regions, the Shunde rowers demonstrated precise synchronization and stamina throughout the four-lap race. Their victory marks China's first gold at this year's championships, hosted by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF).
Based in Lecong Town, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, the team has accumulated 486 international and national titles since its founding in 2010. Notable achievements include China's first men's dragon boat gold at the 2022 Asian Games, where they set a championship record in the 500-meter straight race.
Dragon boat racing, with origins in ancient Chinese river rituals, gained IDBF recognition as a competitive sport in 1995. The Shunde team's black-and-gold boats feature traditional Lingnan woodcarvings.
The World Dragon Boat Championships, organized by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), represent the sport's highest-level global competition. Held biennially in odd-numbered years, the 17th edition is being held from July 14 to 20, 2025, at Lake Beetz in Havel, Brandenburg, Germany. During the championships, Shunde's Luofu Palace Dragon Boat Team competed for medals across multiple events.
Author | Feng Huiting
Editor | Huang Qini, James, Shen He
