When Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao clinched the first gold medal for China at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team shooting final on Saturday, celebration erupted not only in Paris but also in Huang’s hometown of Taizhou, in east China’s Zhejiang Province.
Back home, Huang’s youth coach, high school classmates, and teachers cheered her stunning achievement, reflecting on the journey that led her to Olympic glory.
“Huang started her shooting journey early and joined a local team in January 2017,” recalled her youth coach, Lin Kehan. “Less than four years later, she was selected into the Zhejiang Provincial Shooting Team, where her talents were noticed by the national team.”
Lin praised Huang’s remarkable composure and consistent performance. “Stability is Huang’s best quality. She has always been a calm child, suitable for shooting, stable in life, and strong in mentality,” he said. “In every competition, her performance often surprises you, and in major competitions especially, she can steadily display her techniques.”
At Taizhou High School, teachers and students watched with pride as one of their own stood atop the Olympic podium. Lu Lingjun, one of Huang’s teachers, expressed her excitement and the impact of Huang’s success on the school community.
“This will not only inspire Huang, but also the entire school because our school raised an Olympic champion,” Lu said. “Her spirit, her will, her perseverance, her hard training, and her work of achieving such glory for China will make her a role model for our students.”
Huang’s ascent from a young shooting enthusiast to an Olympic champion is a testament to her dedication and the support of those around her. Her story resonates far beyond Taizhou, inspiring people across China and showcasing the potential of young athletes pursuing their dreams.
Reference(s):
How did shooter Huang Yuting develop into an Olympic gold medalist?
cgtn.com
