The Chinese mainland's men's 4×100-meter relay team, featuring Xie Zhenye, Wu Zhiqiang, Chen Jiapeng, and Yan Haibing, has officially qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris! 🇨🇳🏅 The team secured their spot at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, The Bahamas, earlier this year in May.
Just seven months earlier, these sprinters triumphed at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, clinching the gold with a stellar time of 38.29 seconds. 🥇 Chen Jiapeng, the youngest at 21, made a game-changing move in the final leg, overtaking Japan’s team to seal the victory.
Chen’s rise has been nothing short of impressive. Selected as the fourth runner just weeks before the Asian Games, he has quickly proven his mettle by clocking a blazing 10.08 seconds in the 100-meter dash in April, becoming the fifth Chinese athlete to break the 10.1-second barrier. 🔥
\"When I got the baton, I was about one step behind the Japanese sprinter,\" Chen shared with China Media Group (CMG). \"I believe I could do it, and I did it. The power of the team is great. They put me in the decisive race. I did my best and responded to the expectations on me.\"
Coach Wu Zhiqiang praises the young talent, stating, \"You can tell by Chen Jiapeng's performance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou that he has a remarkable sprinting ability as the fourth runner. In our current squad, he can give us a bigger advantage than we had at the Tokyo Olympics.\" 🗣️
Despite Su Bingtian sitting out the Paris Olympics due to training challenges, the emergence of these young runners has injected fresh confidence into the team. Chen added, \"My big brothers were in the top three last time. I want to get close to them, not necessarily to surpass them, but to match them.\" 💪
With a blend of experience and youthful energy, the Chinese men's relay team is poised to make a significant impact in Paris. Stay tuned as they sprint towards Olympic glory! 🌟🌍
