Olympic badminton champion Zhang Jiewen visited Guangzhou Yucai Middle School on Oct. 23 to ignite student enthusiasm for sports during the opening ceremony of the school’s 2026 athletics meet, news.southcn.com reported. The event, held as part of a provincial charity initiative, brought together educators, students, and a grand slam champion to emphasize the role of athletics in character-building.
Longmarch Historical Theme Sets the Stage for Student Competitions
Marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers’ and Red Army’s Long March, the athletics meet opened under the theme “Overcoming Difficult Barriers and Competing in Youthful Splendor.” Student cohorts structured their entrance processions around historical milestones of the Long March, depicting departure, strategic turning points, and eventual victory. School administrators designed the athletic program to encourage students to build physical strength, cultivate perseverance, and find enjoyment through structured exercise.
Zhang Jiewen Shares Lessons from Athens Olympics Final
During a dedicated storytelling session, Zhang detailed the tense comeback victory during her Athens Olympic final, highlighting the grit required during grueling training sessions and the trust built with her doubles partner. “Persistence goes further than talent,” Zhang told the attentive students before answering questions regarding academic pressures and athletic growth. Following the discussion, she led students through interactive movement exercises on the field.
Zhang and Jockey Club Provide Sports Resources
The ceremony featured a formal exchange of memorabilia and sports resources. Zhang presented the school with a signed golden handprint, while student representatives offered souvenirs. Lu Yuan, senior manager of mainland affairs for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, formally handed over a shipment of athletic supplies to school officials. Zhang and local representatives then fired the starting pistol to officially open the 2026 track and field events.
Related reading
