Olympic champion tells young people to go for it

Zhang Yufei, deputy to the Jiangsu delegation at the 14th National People's Congress, and a swimmer who won 10 Olympic medals, wished to use her own stories of persistently breaking the mold to inspire young people to try new things and not be afraid to make mistakes.

"I am now 28, and there has been much speculation from the outside world about whether I would choose to retire to get married and have children. I want to say that what people think is the finish line may not be my finish line. I want young people to see my persistent pursuit to push my limits," said the veteran swimmer, who in fact does not want to actually be called a "veteran".

When she was a child, she was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis, which erected a high wall against her swimming dreams, but she successfully overcame it, she said on the sidelines of the annual session of the 14th NPC.

After the 2024 Paris Olympics, Zhang hesitated for a year but ultimately decided to set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Even though she will be 30 by then, she candidly stated that she will not stop there. Regarding the Brisbane Olympics after Los Angeles, Zhang admitted that she has not decided whether to compete yet.

However, she said that if she still has a passion for sports and her physical condition allows, she will develop a more meticulous training plan to continuously push her limits. "I hope to strive to provide valuable experiences and examples for Chinese female swimmers, showcasing the commitment and pursuit of athletes," Zhang said.

She wanted to encourage young people not to be afraid of making mistakes.

"In life, there aren't that many spectators. You might accidentally make a mistake, but once you move past it and look back, you'll realize it wasn't such a big deal after all. So be brave enough to make mistakes and be brave enough to act. No matter what the result is, the pioneers reap the rewards."

As an NPC deputy, she suggested that outstanding athletes should spend more time in communities and schools, talking to children about how to face challenges, as sports not only train the body but also build resilience.

The prosperity of a nation leads to the flourishing of sports, and a strong country results in strong sports, Zhang said.

"Every breakthrough on the sports field is never a solitary effort; it's always closely connected with a thriving era, the strength of the nation and the support of the people," she said.

She added that she deeply understands that the glory in sports arenas requires scientific training, the empowerment of educational technology, material support, team assurance, a favorable environment for talent to emerge, and a broad grassroots foundation.

"Today, the environment for sports development is increasingly favorable, with continuous policy support, improved facilities, and steadily rising social attention and public participation," she said.

cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn