In a remarkable turn of events at the Paris Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Budapest, 11-year-old Zheng Hao, a skateboarder from Huizhou, Guangdong Province, has secured her place in the Paris Olympics. Her extraordinary performance may see her become the youngest athlete in the Chinese delegation at the upcoming Games.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Zheng delivered a standout performance in the women’s bowl pool competition. She scored an impressive 63.49 points in the first round but stumbled in the second, earning only 43.84 points. Facing the daunting task of needing at least 67.34 points in the final round to qualify, Zheng rose to the challenge with a bold strategy.
In her final run, Zheng added two high-difficulty moves and executed them flawlessly, earning a stunning 72.6 points. “At that moment, it felt like a dream came true,” she said. Zheng shared her excitement on social media, expressing her joy and determination: “I am very happy to qualify for the Paris Olympics. I am a young skater, and my dream has always been to step onto the five-ring arena. Because I was young before, I didn’t know what the Olympics were. It wasn’t until I really got the qualification that I gradually had an idea, and everything was so wonderful. I don’t want to put any pressure on myself. I want to show my best self in Paris. I also want to tell the world that although I am young, I can skate my best. I hope that my brothers and sisters will cheer me up and I hope I can fulfill my dreams on behalf of many people.”
Zheng’s journey to the Olympics is nothing short of legendary. She began skateboarding at the age of seven and made her debut on the national stage at the 2021 Shaanxi National Games before turning nine. In less than three years, she has achieved her dream of qualifying for the Olympics.
The women’s bowl pool competition will take place at Place de la Concorde in Paris on August 6. Just five days later, on the closing day of the Paris Olympics, Zheng will celebrate her 12th birthday, marking a milestone in what promises to be a bright future in skateboarding.