Recently, Olympic champions Xu Haifeng, Zhao Shuai, Zheng Shuyin, Wang Zongyuan, and Hou Zhihui made appearances at the 2024 China Sports Culture and Tourism Expo. During the event, they engaged with the audience to share the inspiring stories behind their gold medals, promoting Chinese sports spirit and culture.
As the first person to win an Olympic gold medal for New China, Xu Haifeng selflessly donated his precious medal, along with his competition outfit, shooting gun, and observation glasses, to a museum. At the expo, he participated in a dialogue titled “From ‘First Gold’ to ‘First Gold,'” stating, “I donated everything I believe holds value to the museum because I think it’s a wonderful thing. It allows more people to see and understand the remarkable stories behind each piece of sports memorabilia.” He added, “People are becoming increasingly interested in sports and want to learn more about Chinese athletics. I hope more enlightened individuals will showcase artifacts reflecting the history of China’s sports development. Together, we can contribute to building a stronger sports nation.”
Zhao Shuai and Zheng Shuyin, both taekwondo Olympic champions and ambassadors for this year’s expos, expressed their deeper understanding of sports culture after touring the exhibits. Zheng remarked, “I saw many artifacts and exhibits reflecting the development of sports in New China. Through these displays, I can feel our nation becoming ever more powerful, and our confidence is continually rising. From China’s first Olympic gold to the successful hosting of the Beijing Olympics and Winter Olympics, these milestones reflect our country’s rapid development and prosperity. I hope everyone can witness the growth of Chinese sports through these exhibitions and let the sports culture inspire each individual.”
Wang Zongyuan, who earned a gold and silver medal in men’s synchronized and individual 3-meter springboard diving at this year’s Paris Olympics, has matured significantly over his journey from a newcomer to a seasoned member of the Chinese diving team. He shared his evolving understanding of Chinese sports spirit and culture: “When I was younger, I didn’t grasp this aspect very well, but after several Olympics, I’ve learned about promoting sports culture and the spirit of sports. I hope we can pass on the tenacity and resilience shown by earlier generations of athletes, sharing these values with younger generations.”
Hou Zhihui, the weightlifting champion from both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, believes that both competitive sports and sports culture are vehicles for spreading positive energy. She stated, “I think they are interconnected, both promoting uplifting positive energy. During training and competitions, we embody sports spirit through our actions, while sports culture tells our compelling sporting stories. As an Olympic champion, I hope to take on the responsibility of sharing these sports stories and disseminating the essence of Chinese sports spirit.”
