The Chinese women's sprint cycling team is gearing up to defend their Olympic gold medals at the Paris Games, aiming to achieve two consecutive victories.
At the Tokyo Olympic Games, Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi clinched gold with a remarkable time of 31.895 seconds, breaking the world record in qualifying with a time of 31.804 seconds.
This year, the team has expanded to include Guo Yufang and Yuan Liying, as the event will feature three riders for the first time. Guo will take the lead in the first lap, while the youngest member, Yuan, will finish the race.
Bao, now 26, brings invaluable experience to the team after her gold medal win in Tokyo three years ago. She understands the immense pressure that comes with being an Olympic champion.
\"The Tokyo Olympic Games was one of the most important competitions I had competed in,\" Bao shared. \"Prior to the Tokyo Games, I had never been to a world championships or an Asia championships, only the world cup. I was so nervous before the Games that I would dream of competing with Germany while I was sleeping.\"
She added, \"After topping the podium in Tokyo, I became even more anxious when competing because I felt the burden of being an Olympic champion. I was afraid of making mistakes or losing to opponents who are younger than me. I put a lot of pressure on myself at that time.\"
Despite the pressure, Bao remains focused and optimistic. \"I think the most important thing for the three of us now is to win a race, and that will greatly boost my confidence,\" she said.
Reference(s):
Olympics: Chinese women's sprint team gears up for Paris Games
cgtn.com