Co-hosted by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) and the Changping District People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, the Growth Medal Youth Triathlon of the 16th Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival was successfully held at YL Youth Sports Camp in Changping District on 24 August. High-ranking officials present at the event were Xia Rihong, Deputy Secretary General of BODA and Deputy Director General of the Beijing Olympic City Development Centre, Ma Chunxiu, Deputy District Mayor of Changping District, Zhang Baoli, an official from the Changping District Sports Bureau and Wang Chao, head of Shisanling Town of Changping District.
(Firing of starting guns)
This year’s Youth Triathlon featured three categories: Sprint (U15), Sprint (U12) and Super Sprint (U9). Participants competed in the three continuous disciplines of swimming, cycling and running, with their overall results determined by the total time used. Participants in the U9 (ages 6-9) category must complete a 300m swim, a 6.4km bike ride and a 1.3km run, while those in the U12 (ages 10-12) category and the U15 (ages 13-15) category must finish a 300m swim, an 8km bike ride and a 1.3km run. The event drew a total of 500 teenagers.
The event kicked off on the morning of 24 August. The young competitors sliced through the water in the lake of YL Youth Sports Camp, cycled along the course originally used for the triathlon event of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, and sprinted towards the finish line along the tree-lined track. Parents on the sidelines held their phones or cameras, capturing the amazing moments of their children, while cheering them on enthusiastically. Cheers and applause resonated through the beautiful landscape, creating warm, vibrant and special family scenes.
(Competition highlights)
The atmosphere was filled with youthful passion, with every drop of sweat being a symbol of glory. After intense competition, the winners in each category were determined. Wang Ziyu took first place in the U15 boys’ category with a time of 28 minutes and 39 seconds, Wang Qiyue grabbed the top spot in the U15 girls’ category with a time of 27 minutes and 23 seconds, Li Weishi won first place in the U12 boys’ category with a time of 33 minutes and 17 seconds, and Zhang Xiamo came in first in the U12 girls’ category with a time of 33 minutes and 12 seconds. Long Zejun finished first in the U9 boys’ category with a time of 33 minutes and 19 seconds, and Gu Xiaoci secured first place in the U9 girls’ category with a time of 33 minutes and 3 seconds.
(Top three finishers in the U15 boys’ category: Wang Ziyu, Zhu Anyi and Yuan Yishu)
(Top three finishers in the U15 girls’ category: Wang Qiyue, Victoria Wang and Zheng Runxin)
(Top three finishers in the U12 boys’ category: Li Weishi, Liu Yuanlin and Hu Yifu)
(Top three finishers in the U12 girls’ category: Zhang Xiamo, Ma Yixin and Zhang Mengzhe)
(Top three finishers in the U9 boys’ category: Long Zejun, Aidan Hung and Liu Haojun)
(Top three finishers in the U9 girls’ category: Gu Xiaoci, Ming Xiaomo and Fang Xinyuan)
Zhang Zhengyun, the youngest finisher at the age of 6, received an encouragement award honouring his spirit of facing challenges without fear.
(The youngest finisher)
In order to create a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere for the young triathletes, the Dual Olympic Camp was held at YL Youth Sports Camp from 23 to 24 August. A variety of Olympic themed items such as the Olympic torch and replica podium attracted lots of teenagers to take photos. In the cycling, water sports and running areas, professional coaches helped the young participants hone the essential skills and techniques of triathlon. In the face-painting area, artists worked their “magic” to create unique and exciting looks for the teenagers. Additionally, local businesses in Changping District brought their specialty delicacies.
(Dual Olympic Camp)
According to the hosts, the Youth Triathlon is an important part of the 16th Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival and is also a flagship event of BODA. Through triathlon competitions tailored to the physical features of different young participants, the event aims to foster a passion for physical activity and promote a healthy lifestyle among teenagers and encourage them to practice the Olympic motto of “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” and the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship. This year marks the fourth consecutive year that the Youth Triathlon has been held in Changping District. It is hoped that this event would play an active role in promoting the integrated development of culture, commerce, tourism and sports in Changping.
Triathlon, which originated in the United States in the 1970s, is a multisport race that combines swimming, cycling and running. Triathlon was designated as an Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee in 1994 and included in the Olympic Games for the first time ever in 2000. The sport was introduced to China in the 1980s. During the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, triathlon competitions were held in the Ming Tombs Reservoir and surrounding areas in Changping District. At present, nearly 100 triathlon events of various types at different levels are held in China each year, attracting tens of thousands of participants.
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