As the Paris Olympics draw near, the Chinese sports delegation is set to include its youngest athlete ever, an 11-year-old skateboarder who has just completed elementary school. Hailing from Guangdong, Zheng Haohao‘s journey to the Olympics is nothing short of remarkable.
A Last-Minute Triumph at the Olympic Qualifiers
In late June, at the Olympic skateboarding qualifiers held in Budapest, Zheng Haohao made a stunning comeback in the final round to secure her spot at the Paris Olympics. With only three rounds to impress, each lasting 45 seconds, this was Zheng’s last chance to earn her ticket to Paris.
In the first round, Zheng opted for a conservative route, scoring 63.49 points and ranking sixth among all competitors. This meant she needed to outperform four other athletes to advance. However, the second round brought an unexpected setback.
Undeterred by her mistake, Zheng’s determination was ignited. In the final round, she decided to attempt a trick she had never completed in official training: a 540-degree flip. With the clock ticking down on her Olympic dream, she had to score at least 67.34 points to make it to Paris.
In those crucial 45 seconds, Zheng executed the 540-degree flip flawlessly, a feat she had never achieved in a formal competition before. Her other moves were equally precise, culminating in a score of 72.6 points, a comeback that secured her the last skateboarding spot for Paris.
The Journey Behind the Olympics Dream
Zheng’s calm demeanor under pressure is a testament to her training. Her mother and coach were on edge during the competition, but Zheng remained composed. How did she develop this “relaxed” mindset amidst high-stakes events?
After suffering a knee injury at the National Roller Skating Championships in Lishui, Zhejiang, in 2023, Zheng endured the intense pain of cleaning her wound, tears streaming down her face at just 10 years old.
Despite the pain, Zheng continued to train and even competed with her injury, winning the national championship. This indomitable spirit has been with her since she first picked up a skateboard at the age of seven.
Zheng’s first encounter with skateboarding was at a skate shop owned by the father of Hangzhou Asian Games champion Chen Ye. Soon, she developed a keen interest in the sport and became Chen’s junior fellow apprentice.
The “Genius Skateboarder” and Her “All-Around Mom”
At the age of seven, Zheng began skateboarding; by eight, she joined the provincial team; at nine, she participated in the National Games; at ten, she started competing in international contests; and at eleven, she qualified for the Olympics. To outsiders, Zheng’s skateboarding journey seems divinely aided. However, she attributes her success to her “all-around mom,” Wang Zhe, who quit her job to support her daughter’s professional skateboarding aspirations.
Before departing for Paris, Zheng graduated from elementary school. While organizing her books, her mother found a line written by Zheng at nine years old, expressing her firm dream: “To become an elite in the skateboarding industry,” which moved Wang deeply.
Wang Zhe and Zheng’s coach agreed not to instill a competitive mindset in Zheng, instead focusing on technical guidance and support, allowing Zheng to enjoy the joy of skateboarding in a relaxed atmosphere.
Preparing for Paris with National Pride
Driven by her love for skateboarding, Zheng has been fully committed to training since securing her spot in Paris. The team’s “happy fruit,” Zheng has received blessings from her teammates before her departure.
Zheng Haohao’s women’s bowl competition at the Paris Olympics will take place on August 6, and the Olympics will close on August 11, which also happens to be Zheng’s 12th birthday. These two significant dates being so close make Zheng’s Paris trip even more memorable. Young Zheng Haohao is set to shine brightly at the right time!
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