Chinese gymnast Zhang Qingying celebrated her 18th birthday in golden style this week, securing her first individual all-around title at the National Gymnastics Championships in Nanning. The Zhejiang athlete scored 54.333 points across four events on Tuesday – a personal best achieved just one day before her milestone birthday.
Nicknamed 'Big Zhang,' the rising star told reporters her victory symbolized years of growth: 'I’ve gained courage through daily training. This medal is my perfect coming-of-age gift.' Her triumph followed a team gold win with Zhejiang province two days earlier.
The competition saw fierce yet friendly rivalry, with all podium finishers setting career-high scores. Seventeen-year-old Qin Xinyi claimed silver (54.099), while bronze went to 16-year-old Zhang Yihan (53.232), who debuted a new floor routine she described as 'enjoyable despite not being Olympic-level.'
Held in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the championships highlighted China’s next generation of gymnastic talent. Zhang Yihan, called 'Mini Zhang' to distinguish her from the champion, emphasized the event’s camaraderie: 'The atmosphere pushed us to perform our best.'
As Zhang Qingying posed with her gold medal and a traditional Guangxi silk handicraft prize, her achievement resonated beyond the arena – a testament to discipline and China’s thriving sports development programs.
