Rob Timmermans, a karate athlete from Aruba, arrived as the Caribbean island's sole competitor in the 2025 World Games being held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, but he left as the new darling of social media.

The spotlight turned to the 29-year-old as he carried Aruba's flag during the games' opening ceremony on Thursday, and he soon became the most-talked-about face of the sporting extravaganza. His Instagram account was flooded with messages praising his photogenic looks and wishing him good luck in the competition.

Despite ranking fifth in the men's kumite (sparring) +84kg division on Saturday, Timmermans was showered with overwhelming affection, and he left Chengdu on Sunday with an indelible imprint of the city's warmth and cultural wealth on his heart and mind.

"I think this whole week has been amazing. Even though I lost, I still got a lot of support from Chinese fans. This is why I keep going," he said.

Off the mat, Timmermans participated in a series of city tours organized by the Chengdu games' executive committee, visiting attractions such as the Wangjiang Tower Park and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. He also watched Si-chuan Opera face-changing performances.

During the tours, Timmermans enjoyed a night cruise along the Jinjiang River and boarded a sightseeing bus, which offered hotpot-style meals along with stunning views of the city.

"We carefully considered dietary preferences of foreign visitors, selecting ingredients that suit most palates while also highlighting Chengdu's local characteristics," said Lai Xin, operator of the cultural tours.

The tour prepared tomato-based broth, instead of Sichuan's spicy hot broth called malatang, to accompany a selection of beef, lettuce, wide noodles, quail eggs and local snacks such as ciba, which is made of glutinous rice, and mahua, or fried dough twists.

These tailored cultural experiences for athletes will be available throughout the duration of the games, with activities continuing till Aug 18.

Timmermans likened the relaxed vibe of Chengdu with the easygoing life in Aruba.

"It is an island boasting beautiful beaches, nice weather and a really laid-back atmosphere," he said, as he experienced traditional Chinese massages and the tea culture during his tours.

"I have a really good impression of China. I think it's a really good country. I'll try to come back sometime," he added.

Timmermans' younger brother, Brian Timmermans, 27, also took part in the Chengdu games, but he represented the Netherlands and finished seventh in the men's kumite 84kg division.

The Timmermans family operates a karate club called Karate Team Timmermans in Heerlen, a city in southeastern Netherlands, passionately promoting their love for the sport.

Rob Timmermans said he particularly cherishes his participation in the World Games in Chengdu, because karate has been excluded from the additional sports list for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The Aruban athlete, who recently opened an account on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, plans to share glimpses of his daily life and training routine on the platform, although he clarified that he has no intention of becoming an "oversharing online influencer".

He encouraged his new Chinese fans to deepen their understanding of the sport. "If you're interested in karate, start practicing and competing."

He has now set his sights on the Kyokushinkan World Karate Championship 2025 scheduled for November, aiming for podium success at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Japan.

xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn