China emerged victorious at the 47th WorldSkills Competition, claiming the top spot in terms of number of gold medals, total medals, and overall team rankings. The closing ceremony, held in Lyon, France, on Sept 15, saw the Chinese delegation bagging a record-breaking 36 gold, nine silver, and four bronze medals, along with eight Medallions for Excellence.

Shanghai, which will host the 2026 WorldSkills Competition, witnessed its own share of glory as its skilled talent clinched three gold, one bronze, and three Medallions for Excellence, marking the city's best performance yet. Notably, Shanghai also celebrated its first-ever Albert Vidal Award, the competition's highest accolade.

The award ceremony unfolded at the OL Stadium in Lyon, with Chris Humphries, president of WorldSkills, presiding over the event. Major attendees included Wang Xiaoping, Chinese minister of human resources and social security, and Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, who accepted the WorldSkills flag for the 2026 edition.

Among the Chinese participants, Xie Huixuan and Lu Junwei, gold medalists in Industry 4.0, were bestowed the Albert Vidal Award for achieving the highest overall score, marking the second time a Chinese competitor has earned this distinction.

As part of the closing ceremony, Shanghai showcased its vibrant culture and excitement for the 2026 event. A short film featuring renowned dancer Zhu Jiejing highlighted Shanghai's iconic cityscape and traditional craftsmanship, culminating in a stunning display of paper-crafted costumes.

Ethnic Mongolian Ayunga further ignited the stage with the theme song Future Appointment, while the official mascots of WorldSkills Competition Shanghai 2026, Nengneng and Qiaoqiao, made their debut.

The ceremony culminated with a shower of confetti and paper airplanes carrying invitations to Shanghai in 2026.

Source: Jiefang Daily