Z athletes break new ground, fueling sports revolution at home

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(Xinhua) 08:13, September 09, 2024

BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Eighteen-year-old Deng Yawen won gold in the women's freestyle BMX competition on July 31 at the Paris Olympics. Just days later, fellow 18-year-old Liu Qingyi, or B-Girl 671, earned a bronze medal as breakdancing made its Olympic debut. Meanwhile, 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao wowed audiences with her first Olympic appearance, becoming the youngest athlete to compete at the Paris Games.

The emergence of these young Chinese Olympians highlight how the country's younger generations are embracing a wider variety of sports - well beyond China's traditional strengths in disciplines like diving, weightlifting and shooting.

In the past, many of China's athletes were selected, trained at boarding schools, and groomed for Olympic success in specific sports. However, thanks to economic growth and a shifting culture, China's Gen-Z now has access to a broader range of athletic opportunities that previous generations did not have.

Liu Qingyi of China, known as B-Girl 671, in action during the breakdancing B-girls bronze medal battle at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on Aug. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Yongzhen)

INDIVIDUALISTIC LIFESTYLE

At a dance studio in Beijing, B-Girl Wang Yufan moved effortlessly to a pulsating beat, her fluid movements and sharp spins captivating onlookers. Beneath the brim of her low-slung cap, her youthful face exuded a cool confidence. "I do breakdancing because it's cool," said the 18-year-old.

Yuan Shipeng, 37, manager of the ROD Backstreet Dance Club where Wang trains, used to dance on Beijing's streets over a decade ago. After graduating from university, he founded his first dance club.

"At that time, it was tough to attract students. In nine months, I only recruited four students," Yuan recalled.

However, things have changed in recent years, as younger generations have begun to embrace a more individualistic lifestyle. "As those born in the 1980s and 1990s have grown up and become parents, they are more open to respecting individuality and allowing their children to try new sports," Yuan explained.

Wei Zhenyu (Rear, R), a coach at a street dance club, gives instructions to a student in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on July 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Like breakdancing, climbing is also gaining popularity among China's youth. Xie Yishan, editor at the China Mountaineering Association magazine, noted that there is a booming competition scene for both amateurs and professionals.

"A local competition can see several hundred children participate, with record numbers of participants each year," she said.

Xiao Lin, a 12-year-old student who lives in Shanghai, has been learning climbing for two years. "Climbing helps build one's willpower and enhances thinking skills, especially on more challenging walls where you need to figure out your own route," he said.

Skateboarding, a sport once considered rebellious, has also surged in popularity over recent years.

According to the Shanghai Skateboarding Team, the city now has over 470 registered skateboarders, with nearly 200 new registrants added last year alone. Nationwide, there are more than 400 skateboarding clubs.

"In the past, many people thought skateboarding was an unserious and unsafe sport. But as skateboarding culture has developed in China, more and more people are realizing that it is actually safer than sports like football or basketball," said Li Yajie, an amateur skateboarder.

Zheng Haohao of China in action during the skateboarding women's park prelims at Paris 2024, Aug. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Social media has played a key role in promoting these sports among younger generations, who are eager to express their personalities by sharing their experiences.

By 2023, there were over 650,000 posts about rock climbing on Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like platform. Over the past four years, the number of these posts has grown nearly 30-fold.

Government support has also played a crucial role. Unconventional sports like climbing and skateboarding have been included in the physical education and health curriculum in several provinces, reflecting a broader acceptance of these sports in children's education.

RIPPLE EFFECT

This burgeoning interest has naturally stimulated related industries, particularly in equipment manufacturing and sport training.

According to the China Mountaineering Association, the number of climbing gyms on the Chinese mainland reached 636 in 2023, a 31 percent increase on the previous year. Shanghai leads with nearly 70 gyms, followed by Beijing with over 50.

People attend a rock climbing activity after work at a climbing gym in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, on April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)