🏃♂️ Ready, set, go! China's young sprinters are sprinting their way into the spotlight, ensuring a thrilling race to the Paris 2024 Olympics! 🇫🇷✨
The Chinese men's 4×100-meter relay team, featuring Xie Zhenye, Wu Zhiqiang, Chen Jiapeng, and Yan Haibing, secured their spot for Paris at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, The Bahamas, back in May. 🌴🏅
Fast forward to October 2023, and these speedsters did it again! At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Xie, Chen Jiapeng, Yan, and Chen Guanfeng dashed their way to gold in the men's 4×100-meter relay. 🥇 With a nail-biting finish, Chen Jiapeng, the team's youngest runner, overtook his Japanese rival in the final stretch, sealing the victory in 38.29 seconds. ⏱️🔥
\"When I got the baton, I was about one step behind the Japanese sprinter,\" Chen Jiapeng told China Media Group (CMG). \"I believed I could do it, and I did it. The power of the team is great. They put me in the decisive race. I did my best and responded to the expectations on me.\" 💪
At just 21 years old, Chen was assigned as the fourth runner only half a month before the Asian Games began. Talk about stepping up to the plate! 🏆 His rise reflects a tradition in the Chinese men's relay team of entrusting young athletes with key roles. 🌟
\"You can tell by Chen Jiapeng's performance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou that he has a remarkable sprinting ability as the fourth runner,\" said teammate Wu Zhiqiang. \"In our current squad, he can give us a bigger advantage than we had at the Tokyo Olympics.\" 🚀
Though veteran sprinter Su Bingtian will miss the Paris Olympics after a hiatus from systematic training, the new generation is ready to shine. \"My big brothers were in the top three last time,\" Chen said. \"I want to get close to them, not necessarily to surpass them, but to match them.\" 🌠
With their eyes on the prize and youthful energy fueling every step, China's relay team is charging towards Paris 2024. Get ready to cheer them on as they race for glory! 🇨🇳🏃♂️💨
Reference(s):
Baton passed to young generation with Chinese men's relay team
cgtn.com
