China’s all-female police squad beats US all-male team at UAE SWAT Challenge: Reports

China’s debut all-female police squad drew global attention at the UAE SWAT Challenge in Dubai, after footage aired by CGTN and widely shared on social media showed the team finishing ahead of a US all-male squad in one of the event’s toughest stages.

The clips indicate the Chinese women officers completed the course around 16 seconds faster while navigating a demanding sequence of shooting, sprinting and load-bearing tasks. Reported to have taken place on February 9, 2026, the performance marked China’s first appearance with an all-female team at the international competition and quickly sparked online debate.The widely circulated footage shows the Chinese women completing the obstacle course ahead of their American counterparts during the same heat.

While organisers do not release detailed head-to-head timings for every matchup, the visual comparison has been repeatedly cited by media outlets and social media users as evidence of the team’s strong showing.

How China’s all-female police squad outperformed a US all-male team

According to competition rules referenced in media reports, teams were required to lift and carry a 120-kg tyre through part of the course. Dragging, rolling or throwing the tyre was prohibited. In the circulated clips, the Chinese squad is seen moving the load through coordinated lifts, a technique commentators say helped maintain momentum and balance under pressure.

Reports identified the all-female unit as being drawn from the Sichuan Police, selected through a national qualification process involving dozens of elite police teams. Their participation marked China’s first entry of a women-only squad at the UAE SWAT Challenge, an event that regularly attracts top tactical units from around the world.

The American side featured in the viral clips has been identified in media coverage as an all-male team from the Orlando Police Department.

Official event rankings focus on overall team standings rather than individual matchups, which has led to the comparison being driven largely by broadcast and social media evidence.The clips prompted widespread discussion about training standards, teamwork and assumptions around gender in elite law-enforcement roles. Many commentators noted that the challenge rewards coordination, endurance and execution as much as raw strength, factors that appeared to play a decisive role in the Chinese team’s performance.

Event organisers have confirmed the participation of Chinese women’s teams and the structure of the tyre-carrying challenge. The specific time margin and direct comparison with a US men’s team are based on broadcaster reporting and social media footage rather than official published score sheets. Even so, the performance has become one of the most talked-about moments of the 2026 UAE SWAT Challenge.