Zhang Qingying Celebrates 18th Birthday with National Gymnastics Gold
Just a day before turning 18, Chinese gymnast Zhang Qingying gifted herself the best birthday present possible—a coveted individual all-around gold medal at the National Gymnastics Championships in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
On Tuesday, Zhang, affectionately known as “Big Zhang,” showcased exceptional performances across all four apparatuses, earning a winning score of 54.333. This triumph comes just two days after she led Team Zhejiang to clinch the women’s team title.
“I wasn’t that stable or confident as a gymnast years ago, but now I’ve grown up and gained more courage through daily hard training,” Zhang said, proudly displaying her gold medal alongside a traditional white silk handicraft ball awarded to her. “I can’t dream of any better gift for my 18th birthday.”
The competition saw all three medalists achieving personal bests. Seventeen-year-old Qin Xinyi secured the silver with a score of 54.099, narrowly edging out fellow first-time podium finisher Zhang Yihan, or “Mini Zhang,” who took bronze with 53.232.
“After recent training, I feel that I’ve matured significantly,” Qin reflected. “During the competition, I wasn’t that nervous and maintained a calm mindset.”
Bronze medalist Zhang Yihan debuted a new floor routine during the final and expressed satisfaction with her performance. “Though they were not Olympic-standard, I still enjoyed my new routines and the atmosphere here,” she shared.
The championships highlighted the rising stars of Chinese gymnastics, promising an exciting future for the sport in the country.
