Illustration: Liu Xiangya

TheMK socks Chinese sports delegation for the 2024 Paris Olympics was unveiled on Saturday, also the 23rd anniversary of Beijing winning the 2008 Summer Olympics bid. With 42 Olympic champions leading the charge, the delegation is poised to compete in 30 major categories, 42 subcategories and 236 events, making this the most extensive overseas participation by China in any Olympic Games.

China's prowess in table tennis and diving is well-known. These two sports have been China's strongholds at the Games, with an unmatched dominance that is expected to continue in Paris. Table tennis star Ma Long is set to compete for his sixth Olympic gold medal, aiming to solidify his legacy as one of the greatest in the sport's history. Meanwhile, women's world No.1 Sun Yingsha is set to compete in women's team, singles and mixed doubles, with a mission to avenge the mixed doubles loss with her partner Wang Chuqin in Tokyo.

The diving team has secured 47 Olympic gold medals since their debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Despite their impressive record, they have yet to achieve a clean sweep of all the gold medals in diving. This time, with five Olympic champions on the team, they are aiming for perfection.

China's weightlifting team has also been a significant contributor to the country's Olympic medal tally, with seven gold medals in Tokyo. However, due to new regulations, the team can only send three male and three female weightlifters to Paris. Despite this limitation, the weightlifting team is determined to showcase their strength and bring home as many gold medals as possible.

This year's delegation includes several world record holders and top-ranked athletes, reflecting China's ambition and relentless pursuit of excellence. For instance, Qin Haiyang set a new world record in the men's 200-meter breaststroke at the 2023 world championships, while Liu Huanhua, who is set to make his Olympic debut, broke world records in the men's 102-kilogram category at the weightlifting World Cup in April.

The Chinese delegation is notable for being the only team to qualify fully in certain sports. The badminton team is the only one in the world able to compete in all five events, while the shooting team has secured spots in all 10 rifle and pistol events. The women's boxing team is one of only three teams globally to have full representation. This mass qualification reflects the depth of talent and the strategic planning of China's sports programs.

The Paris Olympics will also see a surge of young athletes representing China in emerging sports such as skateboarding, climbing, breakdancing and BMX freestyle. Eleven-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao, the youngest athlete in the delegation, will be fresh from elementary school as she aims to fulfill her Olympic dreams in Concorde Square in Paris. Alongside her are other young talents like 16-year-old swimmer Gao Weizhong and 18-year-old breakdancer Liu Qingyi, representing a new generation of Chinese athletes eager to make their mark on the Olympic stage.

However, not every prominent name will make it to Paris as injuries and competition for spots have sidelined several notable athletes. 

Su Bingtian, known as China's "flying man" who set an Asian record in the 100-meter semifinals in Tokyo with 9.83 seconds, will miss the Paris Games due to recurring injuries. China's female Olympic javelin champion Liu Shiying failed to maintain her form and also did not make the cut this time. The story is similar for Zhang Jiaqi and Yang Qian, champions in women's synchronized 10-meter platform diving and women's 10-meter air rifle respectively, who also missed out due to intense domestic competition.

The journey to the Olympic Games is fraught with challenges, often more grueling than the Games themselves. For Zheng Ninali, China's first naturalized track and field athlete, a knee injury has derailed her Paris hopes after a promising performance in Tokyo and a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Yan Zibei, once dubbed the "Asian King of Breaststroke," also missed out due to an unfortunate wrist injury during crucial training.

Some athletes have faded from the limelight due to age and declining performance. Tokyo's women's RS:X windsurfing gold medalist Lu Yunxiu's event was replaced by foiling windsurfing, leading to her eventual non-selection despite her attempts to adapt. Similarly, China's women's soccer team, which once reached the round of 16 at the World Cup, failed to qualify for Paris, highlighting a decline in performance that demands introspection and improvement.

For athletes, winning gold is the ultimate dream. However, after hosting the Olympic Games twice, China's emphasis has shifted from solely winning medals to appreciating the broader Olympic spirit. Athletes are now celebrated for their perseverance, sportsmanship and the friendships they forge through competition.

The Chinese delegation heading to Paris embodies a blend of experienced champions and youthful newcomers. Their stories of struggle, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams resonate far beyond the podium. The true essence of the Olympics lies in competing with integrity, pushing personal limits, and fostering international camaraderie through sports. 

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]