Chen Dengxing jumps over a car at the dunk contest of the Quai 54 streetball tournament in Paris, France on July 5 local time. [Photo/jinhua.com.cn]

Chen Dengxing, a 1.76-meter-tall, 39-year-old "folk dunk king" from Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province, claimed the championship at the dunk contest of the Quai 54 streetball tournament in Paris, France on July 5 local time, becoming the first Chinese athlete to win the prestigious title.

Regarded as one of the world's most prestigious street basketball events, Quai 54 attracts top players from across the globe every year. Chen secured the crown with a flawless performance, scoring perfect marks on three dunks.

Born in Lanxi city, Jinhua, Chen excelled at jumping from an early age and began playing basketball in high school. He joined the Chinese dunk team "Made in China" in 2011. Since 2015, his dunking videos have gained widespread attention on social media.

Chen attributes his success not only to his natural jumping talent, but also to his dedication to daily training and constant analysis of each dunk.

Chen practices dunking two to three hours a day. "Dunking has become part of my life — if I skip training, I feel uneasy," he added.

Now based in Hangzhou, Chen founded the DK Dunk Park, which offers professional training for basketball enthusiasts. He is also planning to establish a training center for aspiring dunkers in China, aiming to discover and nurture more homegrown stars and help them reach the global stage.