At just 15 years old, Zhou Yaqin has transformed from a little-known gymnast into a rising star on the international stage. Her journey began in September 2021, when she clinched the gold medal on the balance beam at the Chinese National Games in Shaanxi Province, surprising many who expected seasoned national team members to dominate the event.
Despite doubts that her victory was a stroke of luck, Zhou proved her critics wrong by maintaining exceptional performance levels in the subsequent years. \"I knew I was competing with national champions, world champions and Olympic gold medalists. I knew I have to work hard because National Games championship is not a big deal in the national team,\" Zhou explained.
Her hard work paid off when she was recruited by the Chinese national team. In 2023, Zhou reached the finals of both the balance beam and floor events at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, earning a prestigious silver medal on the balance beam.
Determined to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, Zhou participated in the Chinese National Artistic Championships in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, in April. There, she not only won the balance beam gold medal but also upgraded her difficulty score to 7.2—the most challenging balance beam routine in the world for the 2024 Olympiad—and finished with an impressive 15.466 points.
\"Zhou is a typical Hunan girl who's always demanding of herself,\" said her coach Wang Liming. \"She's hungry for success. That's a key part of her career.\"
Zhou's path to success wasn't without obstacles. Just a week before the National Games balance beam final, she was battling injuries and nearly considered retiring. However, her resilience shone through as she overcame her struggles to win the title and secure her Olympic qualification.
\"I like my current form,\" Zhou shared. \"I'm in good form and all I need is a bit of adjustment. So, I hope that I can maintain this mindset when I perform at the Olympic Games.\"
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