Chinese long jumper Wang Jianan is setting his sights on a historic breakthrough at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After making history as the first Asian gold medalist in the men's long jump at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in 2022, Wang is determined to elevate his performance to new heights.
Wang's remarkable achievement of jumping 8.36 meters not only secured him the gold but also raised expectations for his future endeavors. \"Winning the gold at the World Championships was a dream come true. I began to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games with the awareness of the expectations placed on me,\" Wang shared with China Media Group (CMG).
Despite a challenging performance in 2023 at the World Championships in Budapest, where he finished fifth with an 8.05-meter jump, Wang remains optimistic. This result still qualified him for his third Olympic appearance, following his fifth-place finish in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and his participation in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Reflecting on his journey, Wang emphasized the importance of resilience and continuous improvement. \"Every time I grew in the past years, it was after a failure or setback. I learned to find my part in the failure and figure out what I did wrong,\" he explained.
With Paris on the horizon, Wang is focused on enhancing his strength and consistency. \"I definitely want to get a medal in Paris. I need to improve my consistency to navigate the preliminary rounds effectively. I aim to do my best on the field and enjoy the Olympic Games, trusting that good results will follow,\" he concluded.
Reference(s):
Chinese long jumper Wang Jianan aims for new breakthrough in Paris
cgtn.com
