China’s Paris Olympics team: twice as many women as men, youngest is skateboarder Zheng
- 42 of China’s team have won Olympic gold before, with the country set to challenge the US at the top of the medal table
China’s team for the forthcoming Paris Olympics was officially confirmed on Saturday, and it was packed with Games pedigree.
The 405 athletes named – one fewer than for the last Games three years ago in Tokyo – included 42 athletes who are already Olympic champions.
It also boasted twice as many women as men, with 269 to 136, as the country prepares to challenge the United States for supremacy at the top of the medal table.
Together, they will compete in 236 events across 30 sports at the Games in the French capital from July 26 to August 11. More than half, 223, will make their Olympic debut.
Speaking at a launch ceremony, Gao Zhidan, head of the Chinese delegation, called on the athletes to “strive for athletic success and show good sportsmanship”.
Skateboarder Zheng Haohao, at 11 years old, was the youngest China team member named, while racewalker Liu Hong, 37, was the oldest. Liu, who took gold in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, will go to her fifth Olympics, as will shot-putter Gong Lijiao, who won in Tokyo in 2021, and pole vaulter Li Ling.
