After nearly a year of frustration, modern pentathlete Luo Shuai has secured his spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Competing for China, Luo achieved this feat by finishing sixth at the World Modern Pentathlon Championships held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, last June.
Luo's journey to qualification wasn't straightforward. In 2023, he narrowly missed an Olympic berth at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. “I was very confident at that time. I was confident that I could win the Asian Games,” Luo shared with China Media Group (CMG). “The failure at the Asian Games was a huge blow to me. I was very frustrated for the rest of the year. Whenever I thought about it during practice, negative emotions would haunt me. It was difficult for me to adjust my mindset.”
Determined to bounce back, the Chinese national team initiated a winter training camp post-Asian Games and brought in a new coach, Huang Zuping, to enhance Luo's riding skills. Luo credits Huang with introducing valuable techniques and insights. “The coach taught us many new concepts about riding and improved our understanding of the event,” he said. “He focused our attention on a lot of details that we had never thought about before.”
With improved form and renewed focus, Luo excelled at the World Championships in June, clinching the men's laser run individual title. This marked his first podium finish in a major competition in a year. His overall performance culminated in a sixth-place finish in the modern pentathlon final, securing his qualification for Paris 2024.
Looking ahead, Luo remains focused and grounded. “Like in Tokyo, my dream has always been winning the gold,” he told CMG. “But I don't want to set an inflexible big goal like taking a medal for myself in Paris. I just want to do my best in the competition.”
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Securing Paris 2024 qualification wipes away Luo Shuai's frustration
cgtn.com
