Beijing, China, March 10, 2024: China has its first ever surfer at the Olympic Games after teenager Yang Siqi qualified for Paris 2024 at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico.
By finishing 15th among over 110 female surfers, Yang, 15, becomes the first Chinese surfer to qualify for the Olympic Games and will now represent her country at Teahupoo in Tahiti in a field of 24.
"I'm super happy, super excited to accomplish this today. Thanks to my country for supporting me in getting here and to my coach for bringing me to this level. I'm so happy. I've been training so hard for this," Yang said on qualification.
Yang started surfing in 2018 when she was just nine years old.
"I was so scared about it at the very beginning, but after getting through that period, surfing has made me pretty happy.
"The Olympic dream is my dream, to qualify for the Olympics," concluded Yang.
Under the guidance of South African coach Wade Sharp, the Chinese team formed in 2018 and showed exceptional dedication and progress in a short period.
Sharp, who previously coached Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, saw immense potential in the Chinese surfers, predicting future success on the global stage.
"They're very dedicated to their sports, and they take their training seriously," Sharp told the Olympic channel.
"I think a few years down the road, you're going to see China right up in the top earning medals, just like all the other countries."
Her dedication and fearlessness in competition caught the eye of coach Sharp, who noted she has a "super rad future."