5. Breakthrough in swimming, track and field events

Sun Yang won his third straight men's 400m freestyle title at the FINA World Championships in Budapest in July. He also captured the 200m freestyle gold in an Asian record time. Sun's compatriot Xu Jiayu became the first Chinese male swimmer to win a worlds title in backstroke events with victory in the 100m backstroke in Budapest.

China won two gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the World Athletics Championships in London in August, its best performance in the world championships since 1993. Olympic silver medalist Gong Lijiao clinched the gold medal in women's shot put in her sixth appearance in the world championships. Gong was also the first Chinese athlete to win a Diamond League trophy with victories in the Shanghai, Rome, Paris and Zurich legs.