Coaching makes up for Zhong Qixin's regrets in Olympic sport climbing

Zhong Qixin will participate in the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as the coach of the Chinese sport climbing team. In an interview with CGTN Sports Scene's Zhu Mandan, he said that helping athletes grow makes up for his regrets of not being able to compete at the Games during his career.

"As an athlete, I certainly feel like I'm missing out," Zhong said. "But as a coach of the national team, it's a great opportunity to be involved in the Olympics in a different capacity. I think it's a new challenge for me. Although I was not able to participate in the Olympic Games when I was an athlete, as a coach, I can make up for my regrets if I grasp this opportunity well. I have more responsibility now. As an athlete, I just needed to be myself, but as a coach, I need not only to be strict with myself, but also to lead the team and manage athletes. In this way, our team can go higher and further."

Chinese athletes have claimed a total of seven places in sport climbing for the 2024 Olympics and will participate in all four of the discipline's events: the men's speed, women's speed, men's combined and women's combined, when the Games begin in the French capital in late July.

Luo Zhilu and Zhang Yuetong will compete in the women's combined event in Paris. Pan Yufei will participate in the men's combined, Long Jinbao and Wu Peng in the men's speed, and Deng Lijuan and Zhou Yafei in the women's speed.

"At this stage, I think our climbers are actively improving," Qi told CGTN. "Everyone's physical state and competitive form are part of a normal rhythm. I hope they can maintain this good form until the Paris Olympics. I believe they will do well in the upcoming events. Now, as we enter the final month, we need to summarize the deficiencies and shortcomings found in the recent competitions, and solve the problems in training. I hope we will try to get all the details right at the Olympics and achieve our dream in Paris."