I’ve been following the recent National Games held in China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and like many, I got drawn into the excitement. While watching, a few athletes stood out in a way that went beyond just winning—they left a real impression.
The swimming pool witnessed remarkable breakthroughs from young talents like 13-year-old Yu Zidi, who claimed three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze in her national debut, and 18-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo with his five gold medals. Seeing these rising stars compete alongside established athletes like Zhang Yufei and Sun Yang felt like witnessing the beautiful continuity of sports legacy.
Then there’s the Jiangsu women's softball team, which just won its fourth straight title. I’ve been a softball fan for a while, and what moved me wasn’t just the victory, but the story behind it. Their head coach, now in his sixties, has been with the team since the beginning. He recently got inducted into the WBSC Softball Hall of Fame—a fitting recognition for someone who’s given over fifty years to the sport.
There’s also an athlete well-known to many: Oksana Chusovitina. The gymnast is aiming to compete in her ninth Olympics at age 50. Her journey—including changing nationality to secure medical treatment for her son—is one of those rare stories that truly transcend sport.
I also once interviewed Quincy Watts, the American sprinter who broke Olympic records in Barcelona ’92. A car accident led to a back injury that eventually ended his career. He later became a coach and helped set multiple records with his athletes. But when he talks about retiring, you can still see the emotion in his eyes. He says he has no regrets—yet in that moment, you feel both the loss and the resilience. There was something honest in that moment - about dreams changing form, but not necessarily ending.
These athletes remind me that behind every competition are people figuring out what comes next, whether that's a first medal or life after competition.