China’s National Games, now 66 years old, has long been a platform for rising athletes. The 15th edition, co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, continued that tradition with an impressive wave of teenage breakthroughs.
Eighteen-year-old swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo from Shandong delivered one of the most striking performances, winning five gold medals in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events, along with the 4x200m freestyle relay.
He also lowered his own world junior record in the 400m freestyle to 3:42.82.“I just tried my best in each event,” said Zhang, a freshman at Fudan University.
Despite comparisons to Olympic champions Sun Yang and Pan Zhanle, he remained modest, saying he still has much to learn.Thirteen-year-old Yu Zidi from Hebei also attracted attention, winning three golds, one silver and one bronze, and setting a new Asian record of 2:07.41 in the women’s 200m individual medley.
“When the commentator said Asian record, I wondered who achieved it. I didn’t expect it to be me,” she said. On the track, 16-year-old Chen Yujie from Zhejiang dominated the women’s 100m and 200m. She broke the Asian under 20 record in the 100m with 11.10 seconds, and her 23.02 seconds in the 200m was the fastest at the National Games since 2001.
After the competition, Chen returned her focus to school, with exams scheduled in January. In women’s basketball, 2.26 meter tall Zhang Ziyu, 18, led Shandong to a 96–73 win over Jiangsu in the U18 final, contributing 31 points and 10 rebounds. She also fulfilled her dream of completing a slam dunk during the Games.
Already an MVP at the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup, Zhang credited her mother for constant support and guidance. Gymnast Ke Qinqin, 15, claimed five gold medals across the youth and senior divisions. “I have made progress in mindset, trying my best to complete each move without focusing only on the score,” she said. “I want to be a world champion.
”In table tennis, 13-year-old Zhu Qihui helped Beijing win the women’s U18 team title, while 19-year-old Wei Tingna from Fujian surprised many by winning the women’s 55 kg weightlifting event with a 125 kg clean and jerk. Teenage talent was also evident in emerging sports.
Fifteen-year-old Cui Chenxi took the women’s street skateboarding title, while 13-year-old Zheng Haohao, China’s youngest Olympian in 2024, earned bronze in the women’s park event.
Cui, who finished fourth at the Paris Olympics, said she hopes to master more skills and is now aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Across sports, China’s teenage athletes showed they are ready to help shape the nation’s next Olympic chapter.