Setting the pace for the next generation

A natural talent

Chen began athletics training in fifth grade and never looked back, taking by storm almost every student meet in her home city of Ningbo, and then provincial youth events in Zhejiang, consistently beating fields of older girls in the 100-200 combo, before eventually taking her senior bow on the national stage last season.

In June 2024, Chen won her first national championships in Rizhao, Shandong province, in a symbolic fashion, edging out Olympians Liang Xiaojing and Ge Manqi in the 100m final to herald the rise of the younger generation.

With Liang and Ge both sidelined by injuries this week, Wei Yongli, one of China's all-time best female sprinters and a three-time Asian Games champion, stood as the only hurdle in the way of Chen claiming her maiden National Games title in the 100m. She became another footnote in the story of Chen's surging rise, finishing runner-up on Monday.

Wei, for whom the Games were a final curtain call, said Chen represents a bright future for Chinese women's sprinting.

"I am actually happy that it was Chen who won today," said the 34-year-old veteran, who, in Beijing in 2015, became the first Chinese woman to reach the 100m semis at the worlds.

"I hope to see her crack 11 seconds on home soil in Beijing in 2027," Wei said, predicting success for Chen when the worlds return to the Chinese capital.

Teaming up with Liang, Ge and Huang Guifen, Wei helped China finish sixth in the women's 4x100m relay final at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, marking the best result ever for Chinese women.

The women's relay squad is already eyeing a higher finish at LA28, with a little help from Chen, said national indoor 60m record holder Ge.

"She's such a strong newcomer and her development has rekindled our hope (for better international results) if she joins us in the relay," said Ge, who helped her home province Fujian win the mixed 4x100m relay on Nov 15.