Xu Jiayu was born in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province in 1995.

In October 2011, he clinched the third place in men’s 100m backstroke at the 7th National City Games.

In 2012, he was the runner-up in men’s 200m backstroke at the National Swimming Championships held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, and won the gold medal in men’s 100m backstroke at the Asian Swimming Championships 2012 Dubai.

In 2013, he won the gold medals in men’s 200 backstroke and 4×100 medley relay at the National Swimming Championships, and in men’s 100m backstroke and men’s 200m backstroke at the National Games held in Liaoning Province.

Achievement at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games:

Silver medal in men’s 100m backstroke.