Overseas Chinese competes at Chinese National Games

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Chinese Canadian Nina Schultz is part of the first batch of overseas Chinese competing at the ongoing 13th Chinese National Games in Tianjin – a breakthrough in the country's quadrennial sports gala.

18-year-old Nina is a record holder in the teenage group of U20 heptathlon in Canada. However, during the National Games, she only competed in javelin and shot put because she had to get back to school in the US and did not have time for all seven disciplines.

Nina and her grandmother being interviewed at the Games. /Beijing News Photo

According to Beijing Evening News, Nina is not here for medals, but to experience the atmosphere: “The Games are great! There are no such games in Canada. I am very happy that the venue is so big, and a large number of spectators come to watch us.”

Nina’s great athletic talents have deep roots in her family, as her grandmother Zheng Fengrong was the first Chinese to break the 1957 world record in women’s high jump, with a leap of 1.77 meters. Moreover, Nina’s grandfather Duan Qiyan won the championship in high jump at the first Chinese National Games.

Nina's grandmother Zheng Fengrong/ File Photo

Nina hopes to represent China at the next Olympics, a dream her grandmother never fulfilled. Speaking fluent Chinese, she said “I was trained by my grandmother since I was young. I will naturalize into Chinese as soon as possible.”

At the same time, Nina’s brother, 20-year-old Zheng Enlai has been enlisted into the overseas training for the Chinese ice hockey team. He also says he would surrender his Canadian passport to be eligible to represent China in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Nina Schultz /Photo from Cankaoxiaoxi.com

It has long been common practice among athletes to change nationality to compete for another country, often due to heritage or raising the athlete’s international profile, even if the move does sometimes draw criticism.