China's 716-member delegation for Paris Olympics unveiled

Published on : 17/07/2024

The Paris Olympics are just around the corner. How is the Chinese national team roster that will head for the Paris Olympics, and what are the characteristics of the athletes?

This article will introduce China's national team for you with 5 figures.

Team China's largest representation in event number

A total of 716 members of the Chinese delegation to this Olympics consist of 405 athletes, with 136 males and 269 females. Female athletes account for almost twice as many as male athletes. In addition, there are 311 staff members.

405 Chinese athletes will compete in 236 medal events for which it has qualified in 30 sports, out of a total number of 329 events in 32 sports on the Paris 2024 programme.

It will mark the largest number of sports and events that Team China has participated in the Olympic Games held outside of China.

巴黎奧運街頭奧運五環標誌 — The Paris Olympics will start on July 26, and 405 athletes from the Chinese team will head for Paris. (Image Source: AP)

The youngest athlete of Team China is 11 years old

In the Chinese team, the oldest athlete is 37-year-old race walker Liu Hong (劉虹), and the youngest competitor is 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao (鄭好好).

It's worth mentioning that Liu Hong from race walking, Gong Lijiao (鞏立姣), the shot put champion, and pole vault athlete Li Ling (李玲), will compete in the Olympics for the fifth consecutive time, making them become China's three athletes who have made the most appearances on Olympics.

In addition, male table tennis player Ma Long (馬龍), who has won five gold medals at the London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, will also compete in Paris.

Ma Long is now gearing up for his fourth Olympic appearance. (Image Source: Getty)

55% of Chinese athletes participating in the Olympics for the first time

At Paris Olympics, the average age of Chinese athletes is 25, which is younger than the average age of 25.4 at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

Among them, 223 people are participating in the Olympics for the first time, accounting for 55% of the total number of Chinese athletes. It shows that the current Chinese team roster is not only mature and stable, but also vibrant.

Diving, weightlifting, table tennis, shooting, gymnastics, and badminton are the 6 traditional strengths of Team China, in which Chinese athletes had won 27 golds at the Tokyo Olympics, accounting for more than 70% of the total number of gold medals (38) of the Chinese team.

During the Paris Olympics period, this "six ace squads" maintained a high level in many competitions. In Paris, these six events are still expected to be the gold-winning pillars of the Chinese team.

體育運動-奇襲組合2 — The performance of China's Diving Team is something to look forward to. Picture shows the young rookies Chen Yuxi (陳芋汐) and Zhang Jiaqi (張家齊) at the Tokyo Olympics. (Image Source: AP)

Besides, the Chinese team has obtained multiple Olympic seats in climbing, skateboarding, breakdance, BMX freestyle, surfing, and other new Olympic events.

Among them, BMX freestyle female event is the one in which Team China has the strength to go for gold, and we may also expect medals claimed in climbing.

As for breakdance and surfing, Chinese athletes will make their first appearance, which is also something to look forward to.