Xu Shiyan, captain of China’s judo women’s team, is rewriting her Olympic story after a heartbreaking fifth-place finish at Tokyo 2020. The 27-year-old powerhouse tearfully vowed to return stronger after her defeat—and she’s kept that promise through grit, coaching changes, and relentless self-improvement.
Starting as a sparring partner, Xu rose to become a national team star. But her Tokyo setback hit hard. 'I doubted myself,' she told China Media Group, describing post-Olympic training slumps and mental battles. Yet her 'sponge-like' adaptability during coaching shifts—from Chinese to French, then Georgian trainers—helped refine her explosive stamina into sharper techniques.
Now, with Paris 2024 approaching, Xu focuses on mastering scoring strategies. Her journey from self-doubt to determination mirrors every athlete’s grind: raw emotion, reinvention, and eyes firmly on gold. As she says: 'I will come back.' The world awaits her next throw.
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As she says: 'I will come back.' The world awaits her next throw.
Zheng & Huang Eye Paris Redemption After…
