Meet Xu Shiyan, 27, the fierce captain of the Chinese judo women's national team. After finishing fifth in the +78-kilogram event at the Tokyo 2021 Summer Olympics, Xu was visibly emotional but made a powerful declaration: \"I will come back.\"
Once seen as the national team's rising star who started her journey as a sparring partner, Xu faced a major setback at the Olympics. The disappointment shook her confidence, leading her to question her abilities.
\"The national team went to train overseas in 2022,\" Xu shared with China Media Group (CMG). \"We spent a long time in other countries, but didn't achieve many good results. Maybe I ran into the bottleneck at that time. I doubted myself.\"
Despite the challenges, the Chinese national team underwent significant changes in recent years, transitioning from Chinese coaches to French and now Georgian ones. These shifts have been beneficial for Xu, helping her grow and adapt.
Xu’s biggest strength lies in her incredible stamina, allowing her to maintain a swift pace throughout her matches. However, she acknowledges that she needs to diversify her methods to score more effectively.
With resilience and determination, Xu Shiyan is gearing up for her next bid for Olympic gold. Her journey is a testament to perseverance and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Stay tuned to cheer her on as she aims for the top!
