I just graduated from elementary school and will participate in the Paris Olympics! This 11-year-old child has become the youngest Olympian in China!
At the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, China will send a special athlete - 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao. As the youngest athlete in the Chinese delegation, she has not only just finished primary school. It will also show the demeanor of Chinese teenagers on the world sports stage. This news has aroused widespread attention and discussion from all walks of life.
Zheng Haohao's Olympic road is full of legends. In 2019, at the age of 7, she received a life-changing birthday present – a skateboard. Since then, she has formed an indissoluble bond with the sport. In just a few years, Zheng has grown from a little girl curious about skateboarding to an athlete who is expected to make a name for herself at the Olympics. This experience not only shows her talent and diligence, but also reflects the new trend in the development of sports in China.
In the process of preparing for the Olympics, Zheng Haohao faced unique challenges. Unlike other athletes, she has to juggle her studies in addition to intense training. It is understood that Zheng Haohao's school has formulated a special study plan for her to ensure that she does not fall behind in her homework. She was also given plenty of time to train. This model of integration of sports and education is a microcosm of China's sports reform.
Zheng Haohao's success is not accidental. In recent years, skateboarding has been one of the more niche sports in China. According to the statistics of the General Administration of Sports of China, by the end of 2023, there were more than 5 million skateboarders in the country, of which more than 60% were teenagers. This provides a broad talent base for cultivating outstanding athletes like Zheng Haohao.
It is worth mentioning that Zheng's success has also caused some controversy. Some have questioned whether she is too young to handle the intense pressure of the Olympics. In this regard, the relevant person in charge of the Chinese Olympic Committee said that Zheng Haohao has been equipped with a professional psychological counseling team to help her better cope with the pressure of the competition. At the same time, they also emphasized that participating in the Olympic Games is a valuable learning experience for Zheng Haohao, focusing on participation and growth.
From a broader perspective, Zheng's story reflects the transformation and upgrading of China's sports industry. China, which has traditionally excelled in weightlifting, gymnastics and other sports, is gradually expanding into new advantageous sports. Skateboarding, rock climbing and other young sports will not only attract more young people to participate, but also help enhance China's overall strength on the international sports stage.
We should also be soberly aware that a genius boy like Zheng Haohao is a minority after all. While cheering for her, we should pay more attention to how to create opportunities for more ordinary children to participate in sports. Recently, the Ministry of Education issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Work of Physical Education in Primary and Secondary Schools", which emphasized the importance of increasing physical education class time and enriching the types of sports programs. This will undoubtedly lay the foundation for cultivating more sports talents in the future.
In the future, Zheng Haohao's Olympic journey will undoubtedly become a driving force to inspire more Chinese teenagers to pursue their dreams. But we should also see that her success is a microcosm of the vigorous development of China's sports industry. From her, we see the hope and vitality of Chinese sports. I also saw the infinite possibilities for Chinese teenagers to shine on the world stage.
As Zheng Hao Hao said in an interview: "I hope that through my own efforts, I can not only achieve good results in the Olympic Games, but also inspire more children to fall in love with sports and chase their dreams." This is perhaps the most precious lesson from an 11-year-old Olympian. Let's look forward to the fact that in the Paris Olympics, this young skateboarder can create her own miracle and add a touch of color to Chinese sports.