While Chinese athletes wowed the world at the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics, what was perhaps more impressive was how they represented themselves and their country. In them, the world saw China.
An inspiration for future athletes
China finished with 40 gold, 27 silver and 24 bronze, marking its best performance at an overseas Olympic Games.
Looking back, China's Olympic journey has been a tale of remarkable progress. The story began in 1932 with Liu Changchun, a sprinter and the first and only athlete from China to compete in the Olympics. In 1984, sharpshooter Xu Haifeng won China's first Olympic gold. The 2008 Beijing Olympics was a defining moment, with China hosting a world-class sporting event and topping the medal table with 48 gold.
This year in Paris, young Chinese athletes took center stage as they strove for faster, higher and stronger – together. Zheng Qinwen, a 21-year-old tennis player, won China's first gold in Olympic tennis women's singles while Lyu Xianjing, 26, became the first Chinese cyclist to finish the road race, a milestone for Chinese cycling.
The achievements of these young athletes are like a torch that will be passed on to younger generations, inspiring them to carry on the pursuit of excellence with grit and tenacity.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
