Yan Zheng at the Paris Olympics. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

The new Chinese National Sailing and Windsurfing Team convened at the Haikou Sports Training Base for their winter training mobilization meeting on Dec 9. Ningbo native Yan Zheng has been reselected after a rigorous internal selection process, beginning her journey to prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Yan, born in 2001, started her athletic career in 2013 at Ningbo Water Sports (Swimming) School. Under the mentorship of renowned coach Qian Hong, she joined the national second windsurfing team in 2017 and the Chinese National Windsurfing Team in 2020, before claiming the championship at the 14th National Games in 2021.

After the National Games, Yan transitioned from RS:X class windsurfing to iQFoil class windsurfing. Over a period of two and a half years, she earned enough points in various international competitions to secure a valuable Paris Olympic berth for the Chinese team. The iQFoil class, a new event in the Olympics, is already well-established in Western countries, but Yan quickly adapted and reached the Olympic stage.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Yan achieved the best result in Chinese Olympic windsurfing history, finishing fifth. Her performance, particularly during the upwind segment of the quarterfinals, showcased her exceptional talent.

Winter training is crucial for athletes to build strength and achieve breakthroughs. This year's session marks the first winter training period of the Los Angeles Olympic cycle. Expectations are high for Yan to excel in future competitions and reach the podium at the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.