China delivers best Olympics since 2008 Beijing Games

China has delivered its best performance at a Summer Olympics since the 2008 Beijing Games, finishing with an impressive tally of 40 gold medals.

This achievement, which ties them with the United States for the most golds, places China just shy of topping the overall medal standings due to a lower silver medal count.

The 40 gold medals mark an all-time high for China in Olympic Games held outside its borders, achieved under the intense pressure of heightened scrutiny following a doping controversy involving several of its swimmers.

Despite these challenges, Chinese athletes showcased their dominance, particularly in diving and table tennis, where they executed clean sweeps of all available titles. Additionally, they secured two gold medals in badminton, five in weightlifting, and five in shooting.

Notable breakthroughs were made as Chinese athletes captured their first-ever gold medals in artistic swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, women’s boxing, and singles tennis.

Zheng Qinwen, a promising 21-year-old tennis star, solidified her reputation by clinching the singles gold at Roland Garros after a series of hard-fought victories, including a notable win against world number one Iga Swiatek.

The lead-up to the Olympics was marred by reports from the New York Times and German broadcaster ARD, which alleged that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2021 but were still permitted to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. In response, China’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of leveraging the situation to undermine its athletes in Paris, asserting that doping authorities had determined the positive tests were due to contamination.

Among the standout performers, Pan Zhanle, a 20-year-old sensation, emerged as China’s brightest star in the swimming pool, shattering the world record in the prestigious 100 meters freestyle.

He played a pivotal role in leading China to a historic victory over the U.S. in the men’s 4×100 medley relay. Zhang Yufei, one of the swimmers implicated in the ARD report, also made headlines by winning six medals, bringing her career total to ten and making her China’s most decorated Olympic swimmer. “We are innocent,” Zhang stated firmly. “World Aquatics and other parties have already clarified everything. If some people still don’t believe it, we will not refute any more in vain because innocence will prevail.”

Beyond swimming, China also excelled in newer Olympic sports, capturing a gold medal in women’s BMX freestyle, alongside two silvers in sport climbing and a bronze in women’s breaking, culminating in a total medal haul of 91.

China’s remarkable performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics not only reflects its athletic excellence but also cements its status as a powerhouse in the global sports arena, setting the stage for future competitions and inspiring a new generation of athletes.