China’s women’s sprint cycling team is intensifying preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, aiming to defend their gold medal and make history once again.
At the Tokyo Olympic Games, Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi captured gold in the team sprint event with a remarkable time of 31.895 seconds, after breaking the world record in qualifying with a time of 31.804 seconds.
This time around, the event has expanded to include three riders. Bao Shanju is joined by teammates Guo Yufang and Yuan Liying, bringing new dynamics to the team. Guo will take on the crucial first lap, while Yuan, the youngest member, is set to anchor the final lap.
As the most experienced rider at 26 years old, Bao understands the pressures of being an Olympic champion. Reflecting on her experience in Tokyo, she shared, “The Tokyo Olympic Games was one of the most important competitions I had ever competed in. Before the Games, I was so nervous that I would dream of racing against Germany while sleeping.”
Winning gold brought not only joy but also heightened expectations. “After topping the podium in Tokyo, I became even more anxious when competing because I felt the burden of being an Olympic champion. I was afraid of making mistakes or losing to younger opponents. I put a lot of pressure on myself at that time,” Bao recalled.
Looking ahead to Paris, Bao emphasizes the importance of teamwork and confidence. “I think the most important thing for the three of us now is to win a race together, and that will greatly boost our confidence,” she added.
The Chinese women’s sprint cycling team is determined to continue their legacy and inspire fans around the world as they gear up for the Paris Games.
Reference(s):
Olympics: Chinese women's sprint team gears up for Paris Games
cgtn.com
