A grand salute to Tsinghua's olympians

Wang Yifu, a legendary shooter and a distinguished alumnus of Tsinghua University, is renowned for his remarkable Olympic career, which includes two gold medals in Men's 10m Air Pistol at the 1992 Barcelona and 2004 Athens Olympics, as well as a bronze medal in Men's 50m Pistol Slow Fire at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Wang came to Tsinghua University for his undergraduate studies. During his days at Tsinghua, Wang has contributed a lot to the university’s shooting team. Up to now, Wang is the only Chinese athlete who has participated in six Olympic Games.

Yang Yang is the first Chinese athlete to win gold at the Winter Olympics. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, she claimed the historic first gold medal for China in the women's 500m short track speed skating event, a feat that resonated far beyond the sporting arena. In the same arena, she also secured gold in the 1000m and a silver in the 3000m relay.

In 2002, Yang stepped into the hallowed halls of Tsinghua as a student of School of Economics and Management. She worked with her schoolmates as volunteers for the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee in 2008. “I shared my experience in the Olympic Games with my classmates, consciously motivating them. And when I get their recognition and empathy, I feel so happy and fulfilled!”

Yi Siling is a celebrated shooter and a distinguished student of Tsinghua University. Born in Hunan, she rose to prominence with her unwavering dedication and skill in shooting. Her illustrious career includes a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the Women's 10m Air Rifle event, where she showcased her precision and composure under pressure.

Yi enrolled in Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management in 2011. “Studying at Tsinghua University has broadened my horizons and increased my life and social experiences," she said. Classes are a relaxing break from training, helping her to adopt a positive attitude, so that she can act better during competitions. Besides, she often gladly gives guidance to the members of Tsinghua University's shooting team on their technical movements.

Ye Shiwen, with her swimming talent, first made waves in the swimming world in 2010, claiming the 200m individual medley champion at the Asian Games. Her prowess in the pool only grew from there, culminating in a historic performance at the 2012 London Olympics where, at just 16 years old, she shattered the Olympic record in the women’s 200m individual medley, securing her place among the youngest Olympic champions in swimming history.

In 2014, Ye Shiwen was admitted to Tsinghua University Law School, a demonstration of her commitment to academic excellence that mirrors her achievements in the pool. Despite the extremely intense training of the national team, she still hopes to spare time for studying. Ye expressed her eagerness to swim with the swimming enthusiasts in Tsinghua, and her wish to “bring a world record to Tsinghua.”

Yang Qian, a rising star of Tsinghua University’s commitment to athletic excellence, has engraved her name in the annals of Olympic history. Her journey with Tsinghua began in 2016 when she joined the university’s shooting team, and she has since shown the balance between scholarly pursuits and high-performance sports.

As a testament to her prowess, Yang Qian’s Olympic saga unfolded at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she not only claimed the gold medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle but also partnered with Yang Haoran to secure another gold in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event. Thus, she became the first athlete to win double gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics. “When I saw the national flag raised and the national anthem played twice in the Tokyo Olympics, I realized that all the work and commitment were worth it. I feel proud to be Chinese,” said Yang Qian.

Su Yiming, born in 2004 in Jilin, is a remarkable snowboarding athlete. His journey in the sport began at the age of four, influenced by his parents who are both snowboarding enthusiasts. In 2022, Su Yiming achieved a monumental feat by winning the gold medal in the Men’s Big Air at the Beijing Winter Olympics, making him the youngest Big Air champion in Winter Olympics history and the first Chinese athlete to win gold in snowboarding. He also claimed a silver medal in the Men’s Slopestyle event, marking a significant breakthrough for China in snow sports.

In 2023, Su Yiming added another milestone to his impressive resume by being recommended for undergraduate admission to Tsinghua University. Su said that the three wishes he made at 18 - to qualify for the Beijing Winter Olympics, to stand on the podium for the Olympics, and to get an admission letter from his ideal university - all came true.

We celebrate all athletes from Tsinghua who have excelled at the Olympics. The names below offer just a glimpse into our extensive legacy.

1988 - Zhang Qiuping: A shooter who narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in Women’s 10m Air Rifle at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

2000 - Gao Jing: A shooter who earned a bronze medal in Women's 10m Air Rifle at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

2004 - Zhao Yinghui: A shooter who secured fourth place in Women's 10m Air Rifle at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

2008 - Hu Kai: A sprinter who made it to the second round in Men's 100m and contributed to the Men's 4x100m relay team that reached the finals during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2008 - Liu Qing: A distance runner who participated in the Women's 1500m event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2008 - Cao Yifei: A marksman who competed in Men's 10m Air Rifle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2008 - Li Xiangyu: A middle-distance runner who took part in the Men's 800m event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2012 - Li Peijing: A rifle shooter who competed in the Women's 50m Rifle Three Positions at the 2012 London Olympics.

2016 - Wang Yu: A jumper who competed in the Men's High Jump at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

2021 - Shi Mengyao: A shooter who broke a world-record score with 252.1 points.