Imagine taking your favorite hobby and turning it into an Olympic dream 🌟. That's exactly what 24-year-old Chen Jingyue is doing as she prepares to represent the Chinese mainland in kiteboarding at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris!
Kiteboarding 🏄♀️ is making its Olympic debut, and Chen's journey to this moment is nothing short of inspiring. Starting at just 12 years old, she fell in love with the sport, not knowing it would one day take her to the world's biggest stage.
Back in 2018, when the Chinese Yachting Association formed the national kiteboarding team, Chen was among the first to join. She quickly made a name for herself, becoming the first Chinese athlete to win an international kiteboarding championship 🥇.
Despite only turning professional in 2021, Chen has dominated the national scene. In August 2023, she secured the Chinese mainland's spot in the Olympics by finishing eighth in the women's kiteboarding medal series at the Sailing World Championships in The Hague 🇳🇱.
But it hasn't been all smooth sailing. Transitioning from hobbyist to professional athlete meant intense training sessions and higher expectations. \"I couldn't stand it all at the beginning,\" Chen admitted. \"I felt so much pain every day. I was like, 'Why do I have to do this?'\"
Yet, her perseverance paid off. Chen consistently outperformed her teammates, finishing first in all three Olympic trials this year 🎉. Reflecting on her growth, she shared, \"I think I have grown much more mature. I did it only for my own happiness in the past. But when I won the gold medal at the Asian Games and watched the Chinese national flag fly 🇨🇳, I felt the load on my shoulders.\"
As she gears up for Paris, Chen's story is a testament to chasing dreams and overcoming challenges. From the shores where she first held a kiteboard to the Olympic stage, she's ready to make her country proud and inspire a new generation of kiteboarders 🌊.
Reference(s):
Chen Jingyue overcomes various challenges for her Olympic dream
cgtn.com
