Dive into excellence: Yanwen’s academic and aquatic journey at ZJU

HE Yanwen ('24, Business Administration) from the School of Management is one of the recipients of the Chu Kochen Scholarship (the highest honor bestowed upon ZJU students) for the academic year 2022-2023. Notably, she holds the status of National Second-level Athlete in swimming and is a member of ZJU’s non-specialized students’ swimming team. Yanwen has amassed a remarkable collection of 33 medals throughout provincial and higher-level swimming competitions, including 13 golds. For the Business Administration major, swimming transcends being a lifelong sport and a source of relaxation—it embodies cherished friendships and sparks inspiration for research endeavors.

Her medals and trophies

Among her numerous accolades, one silver medal holds particular significance. In November 2020, just two months into her university journey, Yanwen participated in the 2020 Zhejiang Province Collegiate Swimming Championship. The silver medal was gained in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay, an event where Zhejiang University typically excels. However, the team narrowly missed gold by a mere 0.01 seconds, a result that left the then-freshman and her teammates heartbroken. Reflecting on the loss, the 13-times gold medalist’s tone still carries a sense of regret, particularly acknowledging that it might have been the final competition for some fourth-year members. Amid the disappointment, their coach told them, “In competitive sports, there are no eternal champions, only the spirit of relentless perseverance and continuous struggle.” This perspective on the essence of sportsmanship resonated deeply with the silver medalist, spurring her to train harder with her teammates, and they then never missed a single gold in the consequent provincial Championships’ 4x100m Freestyle Relay.

Furthermore, Yanwen’s accomplishments extend beyond the realm of athletics. She has excelled in innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, achieved outstanding academic performance, served as a research assistant, and held a leading position in the departmental student union. The pressures of competitions, graduate school applications, and student leadership roles sometimes overwhelm the multitasker. However, she finds solace and clarity through swimming, using the sport as a means to navigate through periods of anxiety and confusion.

Campaign for a leading position in the departmental student union

For HE Yanwen, swimming is not merely an extracurricular activity; it stands as a constant companion on her academic journey, providing a channel for reflection, renewal, and self-improvement. In the dual pursuit of swimming and academic excellence, the Chu Kochen Scholar continually strives to surpass her personal best.

Adapted and translated from the article written by TANG Kun, CHEN Yuan and XU Chenhao

Translator: SHAO Zicheng ('24, Translation)

Photo: the interviewee

Editor: TIAN Minjie