As the sporting calendar draws to a close, Xinhua News Agency has selected the top 10 Chinese athletes/teams for 2024.
1. Ma Long (male, table tennis)
Ma helped China secure the table tennis men's team gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, becoming China's most decorated Olympian with six gold medals. He was also a flagbearer of the Chinese delegation at the Games' opening ceremony. In late October, Ma received the Outstanding Sporting Career Award from the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in recognition of his remarkable achievements.
This file photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows Chinese table tennis icon Ma Long reacting after receiving the Outstanding Sporting Career Award during the awarding ceremony of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Awards 2024 in Cascais, Portugal. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
2. Pan Zhanle (male, swimming)
At the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Pan won four gold medals and broke the men's 100m freestyle world record in China's 4x100m freestyle relay victory. At the Paris Olympics, Pan improved his own world record to 46.40 seconds for the 100m freestyle gold, and anchored China to victory in the men's 4x100m medley relay final.
This file photo taken on July 31, 2024 shows Pan Zhanle of China celebrating after the men's 100m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
3. Zheng Qinwen (female, tennis)
Zheng became the first Asian player to win an Olympic singles gold at the Paris Olympics. She finished runner-up at the Australian Open for her best Grand Slam result. The 22-year-old was also a finalist at the WTA Wuhan Open and WTA Finals. In the WTA 2024 Fan Awards, Zheng became the winner of Fan Favorite Singles and WTA 250 Best Moment.
This file photo taken on Aug. 3, 2024 shows Zheng Qinwen of China celebrating after the women's singles gold medal match of tennis against Donna Vekic of Croatia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
4. China rhythmic gymnastics team
China's rhythmic gymnastics team clinched its first-ever Olympic gold medal with 69.800 points in the group all-around final at the Paris Olympics.
This file photo taken on Aug. 10, 2024 shows athletes of Team China competing during the group all-around final of rhythmic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Guo Yu)
5. Deng Yawen (female, BMX)
Deng won China's first BMX Olympic gold in the women's park event with 92.60 points at the Paris Olympics.
This file photo taken on July 31, 2024 shows Deng Yawen of China competing during the women's park final of Cycling BMX Freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
6. Quan Hongchan (female, diving)
At the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships, Quan captured the women's 10m platform crown and clinched the synchronized gold along with Chen Yuxi. The 17-year-old repeated her success in both events at the Paris Olympics, becoming the youngest three-time gold medalist from China.
This file photo taken on Aug. 6, 2024 shows gold medalist Quan Hongchan of China celebrating during the awarding ceremony after the women's 10m platform final of diving at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Saint-Denis, France. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
7. Yang Jiayu (female, athletics)
At the Paris Olympics, Yang won the women's 20km race walk in one hour, 25 minutes and 54 seconds, adding an Olympic gold to her titles at the World Championships, Asian Games and China's National Games, and the event's world record.
This file photo taken on Aug. 1, 2024 shows Yang Jiayu of China competing during the women's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
8. Sheng Lihao (male, shooting)
Sheng captured the first gold medal of the Paris Olympics in the 10m air rifle mixed team event with Huang Yuting, before dominating the individual contest with a new Olympic record of 252.2 points.
This file photo taken on July 29, 2024 shows Sheng Lihao of China celebrating after winning the 10m air rifle men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
9. Jiang Yuyan (female, para swimming)
Jiang secured seven gold medals, also setting two world records and three Paralympic records in para swimming at Paris 2024. She was also a flagbearer of the Chinese delegation at the Games' closing ceremony.
This file photo taken on Sept. 4, 2024 shows Jiang Yuyan of China celebrating during the awarding ceremony of the women's 100m freestyle S7 final of swimming event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)
10. Deng Zhixuan (female, martial arts)
At the 4th World Taijiquan Championships, then 14-year-old Deng won two gold medals in the women's Simplified 32 Movements Taijijian and Wu Style Taijiquan (46 Movements), making her the youngest Chinese athlete to claim two individual titles in a single World Championships.
This file photo taken on Aug. 27, 2024 shows Deng Zhixuan of China competing during the women's A & B group Wu Style Taijiquan (46 movements) competition at the 4th World Taijiquan Championships in Singapore. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)
