Hold onto your dumplings, sports fans – 2024 was the year China upgraded from 'strong contender' to 'absolute powerhouse' at the Paris Olympics! While maintaining their reign in signature events like diving (where they practically invented perfection) and table tennis (more spins than a K-pop dance routine
), Team China made splashy breakthroughs in swimming and athletics.
Newcomer Li Jiahao became the breakout star of the pool , snatching two golds while breaking a decade-old world record. Meanwhile, gymnast Zhang Yufei flipped expectations – literally – by landing a never-before-seen vault combo that left judges scrambling for higher scores.
But the real showstopper? China's first-ever gold in track cycling , proving they're pedaling way beyond traditional strongholds. Off the field, 3x Olympic champion Ma Long became the most decorated table tennis player in history – move over, Messi, there's a new GOAT in town!
With eyes now on 2025's World Aquatics Championships in Singapore and the Winter Asian Games, one thing's clear: China's sports revolution is just warming up.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com