As a seasoned sports commentator, today I want to talk about the recently announced Top 10 Female Athletes in China's Sports World for 2024. This list is always highly anticipated, and this year there are quite a few unexpected changes. Let's take a look together.
The biggest surprise is that table tennis queen Sun Yingsha only ranks fourth. You should know that Sun Yingsha is this year's Grand Slam winner, taking the mixed doubles gold medal at the Paris Olympics and sweeping the women's singles, team, and mixed doubles titles at the Asian Games. In theory, such achievements should be enough to secure her the top spot.
However, the selection criteria in the sports world are always complex, considering not only results but also breakthroughs and influence.
So, who is number one this year?
The answer is tennis player Zheng Qinwen. Zheng Qinwen's performance this year has indeed been eye-catching. Not only did she reach the final of the Australian Open, creating new heights for Chinese tennis players, but she also bravely won the women's singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics, which is the first Olympic singles gold medal in the history of Chinese tennis. Tennis is a major international sport, and achieving a breakthrough in this field undoubtedly has a remarkable impact.
Following closely behind is diving prodigy Quan Hongchan. This post-00s youngster once again demonstrated her astonishing skills at the Paris Olympics, successfully defending her women's 10-meter platform title and winning the gold medal in the women's synchronized 10-meter platform with her teammates. Quan Hongchan's performance not only amazed the audience but also inspired countless young people.
Third place goes to swimming sensation Ye Shiwen. Ye Shiwen won the gold medal in the women's 200m individual medley at the Paris Olympics, which was the only gold medal for the Chinese swimming team at this event. It should be noted that swimming has always been dominated by European and American athletes, so it was no easy feat for Ye Shiwen to stand out among formidable opponents.
Let's take a look at the athletes ranked after Sun Yingsha:
- Track and field athlete Gong Lijiao: Defended her women's shot put title at the Paris Olympics, showcasing China's strength.
- Shooting athlete Jiang Ranxin: Won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the Paris Olympics, securing the first gold for the Chinese delegation.
- Freestyle skiing athlete Gu Ailing: Although she did not participate in the Winter Olympics, she performed outstandingly in important events such as the X Games.
- Weightlifting athlete Li Wenwen: Won the gold medal in the over 87kg category at the Paris Olympics, demonstrating the power of Chinese female weightlifters.
- Judo athlete Yang Junxia: Won the gold medal in the 78kg category at the Paris Olympics, achieving a historic breakthrough for the Chinese judo team.
- Canoeist Xu Shixiao: Won the gold medal in the women's single kayak 200m event at the Paris Olympics, adding another gold to the Chinese team.
Looking back at this list, we can't help but notice several characteristics:
Diversity: The selected athletes come from different sports, reflecting the comprehensive development of Chinese sports.
Breakthroughs: Many of the selected athletes have achieved historic breakthroughs in their respective fields, such as Zheng Qinwen's tennis gold medal and Yang Junxia's judo gold medal.
Young Talent: The rise of young athletes like Quan Hongchan and Ye Shiwen heralds a promising future for Chinese sports.
Olympic Focus: Most of the athletes on the list had outstanding performances at the Paris Olympics, highlighting the importance of the Olympics in the selection process.
Regarding Sun Yingsha's fourth-place ranking, I personally believe that although it is somewhat regrettable, it is not without reason. Table tennis is a traditional strong point for China, and expectations for national table tennis players are always higher. In comparison, breakthroughs in other sports may be more easily recognized.
However, I must emphasize that the ranking on the list does not fully represent an athlete's value. Sun Yingsha's strength and achievements are beyond doubt, and her performance in 2024 was still outstanding. This list serves more as an encouragement, inspiring more athletes to achieve breakthroughs in various sports.
As sports enthusiasts, we should cheer for all the selected athletes. Each of them has made unimaginable efforts and is a source of pride for Chinese sports. We should also pay our respects to those excellent athletes who were not selected.
2024 is an Olympic year, and the outstanding performances of Chinese athletes at the Paris Olympics are still fresh in our memories.
Looking to the future, I believe that Chinese sports will continue to thrive and achieve breakthroughs in more sports.
Let's look forward together to the emergence of more outstanding athletes in the next Olympic cycle, adding glory to Chinese sports!