Olympic champion Zhang Yufei: Letting myself become a young athlete all over again

“You’ll never know how far you can swim unless you jump into the water—and you’ll never discover the limitless possibilities ahead unless you give it your all.”

This renowned swimming star has been immersed in water since childhood: she began professional training at the age of 5, joined the provincial team at 13, and made it to the national squad by 15. From clinching two golds and two silvers at the Tokyo Olympics to securing six medals at the Paris Games, Zhang Yufei remains driven by unfulfilled dreams in the pool—despite her countless accolades.

“Even as far as my eyes can see, there are still towering peaks ahead—I still have the desire to keep climbing.” After the Paris Olympics, Zhang Yufei realized that the true allure of competitive sports isn’t just about winning first place; it’s about constantly pushing herself into the unknown, relentlessly pushing her limits—and shaving off another 0.01 second each time.

Thus, after competing in three Olympic Games and winning 10 Olympic medals, Zhang Yufei has decided to start fresh—resetting the clock and giving herself a chance to rediscover her youthful ambition as a rising star once again.

In the new Olympic cycle, Zhang Yufei and her coaching team are working together to refine their latest techniques and strategies, focusing intently on improving every second and every meter—and relishing the satisfying muscle burn that follows each intense training session.

In the women’s 100m butterfly final at this year’s World Championships in July, her time of 56.47 seconds narrowly missed out on a medal—but what mattered most to her was the "certainty" of her growth: "Every two months, I’ve been improving by a full second, and every stroke I swim in competition brings me one solid step closer to progress." This steady, incremental advancement has given her an unprecedented sense of confidence.

In Zhang Yufei's view, water is a teacher shared by all—teaching us both resilience and flexibility, how to gather strength within, and inspiring us to bravely navigate the currents and stand at the forefront of change.

"Backed by the strength of our motherland, we young people of this generation should confidently move forward," Zhang Yufei urged the youth. "Let’s carry forward the pioneering spirit of our predecessors and embrace the vital mission of shaping the future."