China’s Olympic Rise: A Combination of Strategy and Nationalism
Salekin
Editor & Writer
Can China Beat the US for Olympic Gold?
How is that possible?
The U.S. dominated the 2024 Paris Olympics, but China is set to surpass them in gold medal tally. In this report we will look at how China can do this and what are the reasons behind it.
US Hegemony and China’s Challenge
The American presence dominated the Paris Olympics.They sent the most athletes, had the largest audience, and stars like Snoop Dogg and Lady Gaga became cultural icons of the Games. But they are lagging behind China in the number of gold medals. On the final day of the Games, China led with 39 golds, while the United States had 38.
The United States Concentrated on Athletics and Swimming
The United States concentrated on athletics and swimming, while China excelled in diving, table tennis, weightlifting, shooting and badminton. About one-fifth of China’s 302 golds since 1984 have come from diving. This year was no exception, with China winning all the diving golds.
China’s New Breakthrough
This year, China is gaining ground in areas dominated by the United States, particularly in swimming. China won gold in the 4x100m medley, beating the United States for the first time in Olympic history. Its star was Pan Zhanle, who beat American Hunter Armstrong in the anchor leg five days after setting the world record in the 100m freestyle. The losing US team included 10-time Olympic medalist Caleb Dressel, who had to settle for silver.
Meanwhile, Zheng Qinwen Became the First Asian Tennis Player
Meanwhile, Zheng Qinwen became the first Asian tennis player to win women’s gold, and China’s winning artistic swimming score blew the United States and Spain out of the water. The Chinese routine, “Light of Life,” impressed the judges by creating a physical representation of the “mountain” the team had to overcome to win the gold. Although long-time dominant power Russia was eliminated from the Games, China still achieved a score that surpassed any other competitor.
China Also Quickly Adopted Some New Olympic Sports
China also quickly adopted some new Olympic sports such as sport climbing, skateboarding, surfing and breaking. Deng Yawen won gold in the women’s BMX freestyle in her Olympic debut. And the Games feature China’s youngest athlete, 11-year-old skater Zheng Haohao.
Doping Controversy
However, China’s newfound prowess has not come without intense scrutiny, as it emerged that 23 swimmers – 11 of whom went to Paris – tested positive for banned heart drugs In 2021, while changes were implemented, participation remained possible.
China’s Doping Agency Said They Ate Contaminated Food
China’s doping agency said they ate contaminated food, an explanation accepted by the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, which did not make the incident public until an investigation by The New York Times revealed it earlier this year.
China Has Denied the Doping Allegations
China has denied the doping allegations, with a foreign ministry spokesman telling NBC News last month that “Chinese swimmers are clean and never afraid to test.”
Accusations of Double Standards
They also accused the US anti-doping agency, USADA, of double standards after it was revealed that the Americans allowed athletes who tested positive between 2011 and 2014 to continue competing if they had gone undercover to catch other dopers.
Investigation into American Sprinter
China has also looked into American sprinter Arian Knighton, who tested positive for the performance enhancer trenbolone in March, but like the Chinese athletes, his home country’s body said he had eaten contaminated meat.
Geopolitical Rivalry
The current American-Chinese Olympic rivalry is a geopolitical sports duel that has existed since 2004. Although the United States won, it trailed the field with 51 golds when Beijing hosted the Games in 2008. Team USA’s 36.
How it Does This
How it does this is no secret and is similar in many ways to the US and other countries.
Tech News
China’s Olympic Ambitions
Early Beginnings
“It has poured more funding into games, while focusing on specific games that it knows will return a healthy number of respects. Of course having 1.4 billion people doesn’t hurt, although as India will prove (no gold, one silver and five bronze in Paris this year), a huge potential talent pool doesn’t guarantee success.
The Soviet Union Precedent
The last time an opaque, one-party state medaled the United States for allegedly running a doping program, it was the Soviet Union.
Mao’s Vision
During that era of geopolitical tension, China’s participation in the Olympic Games was in its nascent stages.
After the Communist Revolution of 1949, Chinese leader Mao Zedong promoted exercise not only as an athletic imperative—building a strong, healthy working class and protecting the nation—as well as a cultural and political imperative. The Association for Asian Studies, located in Michigan, published in its journal Education About Asia that this initiative would “advance a political goal of cultivating a citizenry characterized by both intellectual and physical discipline.
The Power of the Olympics
And at the 1952 Helsinki Games, China saw how powerful the Olympics could be as a geopolitical weapon. The Soviet Union’s exceptional performance in the Olympics, nearly rivaling the United States in medal count, served as a demonstration, according to the Asia essay on education, of the potential for a socialist nation to outperform Western democracies in the global arena.
China’s Return to the Olympics
China would not win its first medal for another 30 years, after China withdrew from the International Olympic Committee in protest over the participation of Taiwan, which it sees as a breakaway region that Beijing considers its own territory
Pingpong Diplomacy
The international sports ice house began to thaw in the 1970s, first paved the way by the historic “pingpong diplomacy” of 1971, in which the US table tennis team became the first international sports delegation to visit China in decades. A year later then-President Richard Nixon made a visit. This aspect of travel was further accelerated in the late 1970s by the “reform and opening up” policies enacted by Deng Xiaoping after the death of Mao Zedong.
Rise to Prominence
China finally returned to the Games in Los Angeles in 1984 after an IOC agreement stipulated that Taiwan would compete under the name “Chinese Taipei”. Beijing soon became a medal machine, rising to Beijing in 2008. This landmark event in the country’s modern history coincided with its meteoric economic rise during the same year that the West was in the midst of a financial crisis.
Criticism and Controversy
Amid intense criticism, the IOC said the games would help revolutionize politics and human rights in what was then the world’s most populous country. It never came.
Nationalistic Pride
Today, all countries see success in the Games as a means of demonstrating power internationally. But China takes it to a whole new level, where not only is gold seen as a symbol of nationalistic pride, but silver is often condemned on Chinese social media.
Global Ambitions
Meanwhile, its State Council has pledged to make China “a modern leading sports socialist country” by 2050 and that its “global influence in sports should rank near the top worldwide”.
Sino-Western Rivalry
In this new era of Sino-Western rivalry, the Olympics are used by the more nationalist elements of the Chinese media as a way to portray China in a positive light against treacherous Americans and Europeans. The logic of doping in these games only intensified this dynamic.
China’s Olympic Ambitions and Challenges
China’s Response to US Containment
“It is truly shameful and unsportsmanlike that the United States is using its hegemonic influence and power to contain China and other competitors in sports,” sports commentator Li Jiang told the hard-line Global Times newspaper on Friday. China, on the other hand, “showed grace and sportsmanship in Paris, because Chinese youth The athletes have gained friendship and respect from their competitors and foreign visitors,” Lee said.
The Future of China’s Olympic Success
China has pledged to invest more in its sports program and to specialize in new Olympic events. This indicates that they are aiming to win more gold medals in the future. China’s strong performance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics has already proven this.
Challenges to China’s Olympic Success
However, China’s Olympic success remains overshadowed by doping controversies and political tensions. This could damage their image in the international community and the spirit of the Olympics.
Conclusion
China has the potential to beat the United States for Olympic gold, but it will be a challenging task. They need to improve in US-dominated fields like athletics and swimming and deal with doping controversies. If they can overcome these challenges, they could become the next Olympic powerhouse.
Reasons for China’s Olympic Success
Government Investment
The Chinese government has invested a lot of money in the sports sector, thereby increasing opportunities for training and development of athletes.
Large Population
China’s large population provides a huge pool of talent, from which potential Olympic champions can be identified and nurtured.
Focus on Specific Sports
China has traditionally excelled in specific sports such as diving, table tennis and weightlifting, where they have consistently won gold medals.
Adoption of New Sports
China also quickly adopted some of the new Olympic sports, such as sport climbing, skateboarding and braking, which increased their chances of winning medals.
Challenges to China’s Olympic Success
Doping Controversy
Doping scandals involving Chinese athletes have questioned the legitimacy of their Olympic success and damaged their image in the international community.
Political Tensions
Ongoing political tensions between China and the West could affect competition at the Olympics and put additional pressure on Chinese athletes.
US Dominance
The US continues to dominate major sports such as athletics and swimming, making it difficult for China to top the gold medal tally.
Additional Information
Olympic Medal Records
China has won the most Olympic gold medals ever at the Summer Olympics, with a total of 262.
The United States has won the most Olympic gold medals of all time, including both the Summer and Winter Olympics, with a total of 1,022.
China’s Best Performances
The 2008 Beijing Olympics were the most successful Olympics in Chinese history, where they won 51 gold medals.
China had their best performance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, winning 9 gold medals.
Disclaimer
Please note that the information provided in this report was correct at the time of writing. Please visit the official Olympic website or other reliable sources for the latest Olympic results and news.
Do Not Forget To Share This Post
Recent News
