NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — Led by 13-year-old Yu Zidi, China dominated the first day of swimming at the Asian Games with Yu and defending Olympic champion Pan Zhanle taking gold.
Yu easily won the 200-meter butterfly on Sunday at the Olympic pool in Tokyo, and Pan took the 100 free, where he holds the world record (46.40 seconds) set two years ago in Paris.
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Pan Zhanle of China watches the scoreboard after competing in the men's 100-meter freestyle final in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Yu Zidi of China competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Yu Zidi of China, left, and Chang Mohan of China reach towards each other after competing in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Yu Zidi of China competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Gold medalist Yu Zidi of China, center, flanked by silver medalist Chang Mohan of China, left, and bronze medalist Misa Okuzono of Japan pose on the podium after the women's 200-meter butterfly final in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Yu swam a personal-best time of 2:05.08 and fellow Chinese Chang Mohan took silver (2:08.44) with bronze for Misa Okuzono (2:09.97) of Japan.
Yu is a swimmer the world is watching heading to next year's world championships in Budapest, Hungary, and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. She turns 14 in October.
Yu defeated American Regan Smith earlier this year in the 200 fly in a meet in China. She swam a personal best in that race (2:05.71), which she eclipsed on Sunday.
Smith took silver in the 2024 Paris Olympics behind the dominant swimmer in the event — Summer McIntosh of Canada.
McIntosh holds the world record in the 200 fly (2:01.65) and also holds the marks in Yu's two other dominant races — the 200 individual medley (2:05.70) and the 400 IM (4:23.65). Yu will swim all three events in Japan.
Pan was more than a second off his world-record time and finished in 47.61, barely beating Kim Youngbeom of South Korea (47.65). Another South Korean, Hwang Sunwoo, took bronze (47.79).
Leon Marchand, who won four Olympic gold medals two years ago, was on the pool deck in Tokyo handing out medals.
The Asian games opened officially on Saturday with the first full-day of competition on Sunday. They end Oct. 4.
See full AP coverage of Asian sports here
Pan Zhanle of China watches the scoreboard after competing in the men's 100-meter freestyle final in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Yu Zidi of China competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Yu Zidi of China, left, and Chang Mohan of China reach towards each other after competing in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Yu Zidi of China competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Gold medalist Yu Zidi of China, center, flanked by silver medalist Chang Mohan of China, left, and bronze medalist Misa Okuzono of Japan pose on the podium after the women's 200-meter butterfly final in swimming at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — It is lunchtime in downtown Santiago, and dozens of businesses around the Plaza de Armas are serving up one of Chile’s most democratic specialties: the “completo.”
For decades, the country’s version of the hot dog has been one of the most affordable foods enjoyed across social classes. But as the cost of living rises and the economy struggles, even the humble snack is feeling the impact.
"Not long ago, I used to pay 2,500 pesos ($2.60) for a completo," said Antonia Bravo, a 21-year-old student. “Now, they cost 3,500 or 4,000 pesos ($3.60 or $4.10).”
Official data released this month confirmed that Chile is on the brink of recession after two consecutive quarters of economic contraction. Unemployment rose to 9.5% — the highest level in five years — while annual inflation accelerated to 4.1% in the past 12 months as food and transportation prices increased.
The weak outlook prompted Chile's Central Bank to cut its 2026 growth forecast — from the previously projected 1%–1.75% range to 0.25%–0.75%.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that the current weakness may prove more persistent than anticipated,” Central Bank President Rosanna Costa warned at a news conference last week.
The completo was born in one of those small shops in downtown Santiago in the early 1930s. Chile’s take on the hot dog features a sausage topped with sauerkraut, tomato and homemade potato-based mayonnaise. Avocado and other ingredients were added over time, turning it into a complete meal. Hence its name, “completo.”
“Back then, people weren’t well-off; they didn’t have many resources and would come here for completos,” said Guillermo Cid, manager of the restaurant credited with creating the dish. “It is the same today. Instead of sitting down for a full meal, many people just stop by for a completo."
Chile's monthly basic food basket cost just under $100 in August, up 5% from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Social Development. The country's monthly minimum wage is about $580. Chile has also faced rising fuel prices resulting from the U.S.-Iran war.
Together, these pressures "feed into inflation and erode household purchasing power,” creating a scenario where “confidence... deteriorates,” the Central Bank president said.
As the cost of living rises and household budgets tighten, Chileans are looking for ways to stretch their incomes by cutting spending on key areas, including food.
“The price of basic products just keeps going up and up,” said Mauricio Aravena, a 30-year-old teacher. “Eating out has always been somewhat of a luxury, but now even more so.”
Even a get-together with friends has become synonymous with extravagance.
“Compared to last year, when my friends and I could plan more outings, these days it’s more about staying in and cooking at home,” said Tabata Martinich, 31, also a teacher. “You have to watch your spending more closely; everything is way more expensive.”
Workers also say wages aren’t keeping pace with inflation.
“Bills are more expensive overall, and pay raises aren’t keeping up with those costs,” Aravena added. “We are lagging about five years behind.”
Since taking office in March, President José Antonio Kast has pursued an economic recovery agenda aimed at boosting investment and employment, as Chile's economy and labor market weaken. His challenge is ensuring that these reforms not only translate into stronger economic indicators but also reach citizens’ pockets.
“Expectations are turning into frustration,” analyst Guillermo Holzmann said. “Despite progress in approving major projects, the investments have not materialized at the pace needed.”
Kast recently acknowledged the situation, saying Chile is “facing higher inflation than expected and lower growth than projected.”
At a meeting Tuesday with ministers and leaders of parties in the ruling coalition, Kast instructed his team to draft a “labor emergency plan” that should be presented in the coming weeks — although he did not provide details. The plan follows several other measures announced recently — including the economic and tax overhaul, which was approved by Congress but has yet to be ratified as the Constitutional Court reviews complaints filed by opposition parties.
The proposed reform includes initiatives such as tax cuts for large corporations, the elimination of double taxation to encourage more private investment, and the implementation of financial compensation for companies whose projects are rejected due to environmental concerns. It also establishes the “right to financial oblivion” for old debts in new credit assessments and bans the charging of interest on interest.
Holzmann said the worsening economic conditions are pushing the Kast administration to race against the clock to translate medium- and long-term initiatives into concrete actions that have a direct impact on citizens’ pockets. “Making ends meet is becoming increasingly difficult,” he said.
“There is a disconnect between consumers’ income levels and the prices of products in stores,” he added. “Social frustration is the primary breeding ground for unrest in a country.”
Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Chilean flags decorate a menu board offering combo deals for "completos," traditional Chilean hot dogs topped with mashed avocado, diced tomatoes and mayonnaise, in downtown Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Félix)
Antonia Bravo eats a "completos", traditional Chilean hot dogs topped with mashed avocado, diced tomatoes and mayonnaise, at the "El Portal Ex Bahamondes" restaurant in downtown Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
A cook prepares "completos", traditional Chilean hot dogs topped with mashed avocado, diced tomatoes and mayonnaise, at a restaurant in Santiago, Chile, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Félix)
People eat 'completos", traditional Chilean hot dogs topped with mashed avocado in downtown Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Félix)
A waitress carries a tray with "completos", traditional Chilean hot dogs topped with mashed avocado, diced tomatoes and mayonnaise, past a mural dedicated to the dish at the Ravera restaurant in downtown Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
