2024 Recap | China shines in 2024 sports: 40 golds to lead Olympic medal table
In a landmark year for Chinese sports, the nation's athletes delivered extraordinary performances at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. China clinched 40 gold medals in the Olympics, tying with the US for first place on the medal table and setting a new record for the most golds won outside of China. Dominant showings in table tennis and diving saw China sweep all golds in these events, while breakthroughs in tennis, swimming, synchronized swimming, and artistic gymnastics further highlighted the team's success.
In the Paralympics, China won 94 gold medals, achieving the top spot on the medal table for the sixth consecutive time. Athlete Zou Lijuan's shot put victory marked the nation's 200th gold medal in Paralympic history.
Key Highlights
1. Record-breaking gold medals in overseas participation
China matched the US with 40 gold medals, surpassing the previous overseas record of 39 golds from the 2012 London Games. A total of 91 medals (40 gold, 27 silver, 24 bronze) underscored China's growing achievements in global sports.
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2. Zheng Qinwen wins historic tennis gold
Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen made history on Aug. 3, winning China's first-ever Olympic gold in women's singles tennis. The tennis team also claimed a silver in mixed doubles, marking their most successful Olympic showing to date.
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3. Pan Zhanle smashes records in 100m freestyle
China's swimmer Pan Zhanle broke his own world record in the men's 100m freestyle, clocking 46.40 seconds to win gold. This was China's first Olympic gold in the event, cementing Pan as a rising star in global swimming.
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4. Diving 'Dream Team' achieves perfection
China's diving team swept all eight gold medals, achieving a historic clean sweep for the first time. China's Cao Yuan secured the final gold in the men's 10m platform, fulfilling the team's long-standing dream of winning every diving event.
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5. First-ever Olympic golds in artistic swimming and rhythmic gymnastics
China claimed its first-ever Olympic golds in artistic swimming and rhythmic gymnastics. The artistic swimming team earned top scores in all three routines, while the rhythmic gymnastics team triumphed in the group all-around final, defeating strong favorites from Israel.
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6. Table tennis team sweeps all five golds
China's national table tennis team this year claimed victories in all five events, which marked the first time in history that they swept all the gold medals. After teaming up with Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong to win the men's team gold medal, Ma Long has now participated in four Olympics since the Beijing Games and has won a total of six gold medals, earning him the title of "King of Gold Medals" for the Chinese delegation.
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7. Men's 4x100m swimming relay ends US's dominance
China wins men's 4x100m medley relay gold at Paris 2024, breaking the US's run of 10 successive gold medals in this event dating back to the Los Angeles 1984 Games.
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8. China's young shooters win first gold in Paris
China's young shooters Huang Yuting, 17, and Sheng Lihao, 19, defeated South Korea's Keum Ji-hyeon and Park Ha-jun in the 10m air rifle mixed team event to secure the Games' first gold medal. Sheng also claimed gold in the individual event.
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9. Breakthroughs in new Olympic sports
China excelled in new Olympic sports, with 18-year-old Deng Yawen winning gold in freestyle BMX and Deng Lijuan earning silver in women's speed climbing. Liu Qingyi brought home China's first-ever bronze in women's breaking.
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10. Paralympic victory continues
China topped the Paralympic medal table for the sixth consecutive time with 94 gold, 76 silver, and 50 bronze medals. Zou Lijuan's shot put victory marked the nation's 200th gold in Paralympic history, a milestone achievement.
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