The 2024 Paris Olympic Games is about to open in July. The reporter learned from many national teams, such as rock climbing, that Chinese athletes are gathering strength, preparing for the fight, and striving to win glory for the country again. On the occasion of the upcoming May Day International Labor Day, we selected five outstanding athletes "model workers" to salute them! Wish them a dream of Paris!

Zhang Yufei

On August 7, 2023, Zhang Yufei displayed her 9 gold medals at the Chengdu Universiade. Photographed by Wu Gang, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency

As a leading figure in China's swimming world, Zhang Yufei has participated in several events for many times, and even won gold and silver in international competitions, demonstrating the strength and level of China's swimming to the world. In 2023, Zhang Yufei participated in 59 competitions in the international arena and won 23 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals. Zhang Yufei won 5 gold medals in the 2024 National Swimming Championships just ended in Shenzhen, which is worthy of the title of "model worker" given to her by netizens.

Recently, Zhang Yufei was also awarded the title of "People Who Moved China in 2023". The host once asked at the award ceremony: "Are you tired of participating in the World Championships, the Universiade, the Asian Games and the World Cup in 2023 every four days? Why not refuse?" Zhang Yufei replied: "Very tired, but you can't refuse. Some games can be for yourself, but some games are for the country." Zhang Yufei's eyes were full of tears at that time, He added: "To shoulder the responsibility of the country, there is only one word, do!"

Wang Chuqin

On April 15, 2024, Wang Chuqin returned the ball in the Macao World Cup. Photographed by Zhang Jinjia, reporter of Xinhua News Agency

In recent years, Wang Chuqin has repeatedly participated in mixed doubles, men's doubles and men's singles in international competitions, thus he often has to stand the test of three competitions a day. The continuous competition schedule and strong opponents are a severe test for his physical strength, but Wang Chuqin can always shine on the field and break through one hurdle after another, so fans crowned him as a "model worker". In the Doha round of the World Table Tennis Federation Star Challenge in January 2024, Wang Chuqin once again played three sports. He played five games in 10 hours a day, all winning 3-0.

In the latest ranking released by the International Table Tennis Federation, Wang Chuqin once again became a big winner, winning the first place in men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles in the world. Wang Chuqin was so powerful that he ranked first in the world in all three events. Looking at the whole history of table tennis, it is extremely rare. In the grand slam of the World Table Tennis Federation (WTTF) starting from May 1, Wang Chuqin will attack again on all fronts and look forward to his wonderful performance.

Chen Yufei

On April 13, 2024, Chen Yufei was in the women's singles semi-final of the Asian Badminton Championships. Photographed by Jiang Han, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency

As the "first sister" of Guoyu Women's Singles, Chen Yufei has maintained a high attendance rate and played very stably in both team and individual events in the past few seasons. In 2023, she participated in 17 singles competitions, only two of which failed to reach the top four. Among them, she retired due to illness, ranking second in the world at the end of the year. In the ranking of badminton points in Paris Olympic Games, she also ranked second in women's singles. During this year's "May Day", Chen Yufei will join hands with his teammates in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, to launch an all-out attack on the 16th Uber Cup champion of the Chinese team.

Chen Yufei once said that he did not have good congenital conditions and unique physical ability. What he can achieve today is faith, determination and hard work, and the courage not to escape from any difficulties. "This is my talent - the talent to believe that he can achieve the ultimate."

Gong Lijiao

On March 29, 2024, Gong Lijiao was in the women's shot put final of the National Indoor Track and Field Championships. Photographed by Zhao Zishuo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency

Gong Lijiao, 35, is the most important calming pin of the Chinese track and field corps. At the Tokyo Olympic Games, she won the championship with her personal best score of 20.58 meters, realizing her "Grand Slam" in shot put. Gong Lijiao has been engaged in shot put for more than 20 years. She has accumulated many injuries, but she will never give up scientific training. When she is about to win the Olympic Games in the fifth world war, she will leave her "best state to Paris".

For a veteran with numerous reputations, Gong Lijiao can actually retire after success, but she still insists on pursuing the next "one centimeter farther". "Even if there are a hundred reasons to give up, as long as there is one reason, I can stick to it. That is my ultimate dream - 21 meters."

Shi Zhiyong

On April 4, 2024, Shi Zhiyong won the snatch gold medal in the men's 73 kg weightlifting World Cup. Photographed by Lin Hao, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency

As a gold medal winner of the two Olympic Games, Shi Zhiyong has broken his own world record in the competition for many times. In the first two years of the Paris Olympic cycle, Shi Zhiyong had almost no systematic training due to serious waist injury. After the Hangzhou Asian Games, he was barely able to carry out systematic training. In the recent World Cup of Weightlifting, he overcame the problem of injury and fought for one gold and one silver.

Due to the limited number of participants in weightlifting events, the Chinese weightlifting team has not yet determined the candidate for the Paris Olympic Games. Whether Shi Zhiyong can go remains a mystery. Shi Zhiyong said that he would try his best to practice well during this period, and would also promote other level athletes to work hard in the team. "Because as long as I am working hard, they will not give up."

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