Chinese swimmer Xu Jiayu won gold at the men's 100-meter backstroke at the Tokyo leg of the 2018 FINA Swimming World Cup on November 11. Xu finished the race in 48.88 seconds, setting a new world record. This was Xu's third gold at the event, after winning the men's 200-meter and 50-meter backstroke.

Born in Wenzhou City of east China's Zhejiang Province, the 23-year-old started swimming under the encouragement of his mother who used to be a professional swimmer. Xu entered the Zhejiang provincial swimming team in 2008.

He won silver at the men's 100-meter backstroke at the Rio Olympics in 2016. A year later, he won gold at the men's 100-meter backstroke at the FINA World Championships. He also won gold for the men's 100-meter backstroke at the Tokyo stop of the FINA Swimming World Cup last year.