Passion-driven running: ZHU Junying's journey at the national games

ZHU Junying delivered an impressive performance at the 15th National Games, capturing gold in the women's 4×100m relay, silver in the 200m, and bronze in the mixed 4×100m relay. A 2022 undergraduate from the School of Public Affairs at Zhejiang University, she embodied the well-rounded excellence of ZJU youth through her remarkable speed and endurance, showcasing the competitive spirit and youthful responsibility of todays’s university students. She was also honored as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Students at the 16th Zhejiang University Awards.

From local track to world stage

Just months before the National Games, ZHU represented China at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou—her first time competing on the international stage. When the national anthem played, her only thought was to secure qualification for the World Athletics Championships Tokyofor China. That experience transformed her mindset. Stay calm and handle every detail well. Do your part, and we will succeed, she said. The maturity she gained from competing internationally directly contributed to her composed performance at the National Games.

During this challenging preparation period, Coach LV Ping served as both her technical guide and psychological anchor. When ZHU traveled to the Hubei Province for centralized training, Coach LV's consistent encouragement and care over WeChat provided much-needed warmth during her most stressful moments.

Silent team chemistry

Relay racing tests not only speed but also precision of coordination. ZHU and her teammates conducted specialized relay training three to four times per week. Using high-definition video technology, they analyzed every detail frame by frame, discussing each other's rhythms and habits like engineers fine-tuning machinery. However, their collaboration went far beyond technique. After each training session, they gathered to share insights and celebrate progress, gradually building an unspoken understanding that became their greatest strength on race day.

This thorough preparation was tested by an unexpected situation. During the National Games, Guangdong Province was hit by a sudden cold wave. Rather than panicking, ZHU and her teammates quickly adjusted through muscle activation and accelerated warm-ups, calmly turning the crisis into a display of mental fortitude.

A balanced life of academics and training

ZHU's story extends far beyond the track. At ZJU, she learned that athletic and academic excellence are not opposing forces, but mutually reinforcing. With the university’s full support, she pursued both simultaneously. Through public administration courses, she developed analytical thinking that helped her adjust training plans more scientifically. Exchanges with students from different majors broadened her perspective—she realized that a meaningful life encompasses far more than running times.

ZHU shared candidly: Zhejiang University's academic atmosphere taught me to analyze problems rationally, helping me adjust my condition more scientifically. Interacting with students from different majors broadened my horizons, allowing me to see life and growth from multiple dimensions rather than focusing solely on running. Meanwhile, the university's philosophy of comprehensive development encouraged me to balance academics, personal growth, and training. This experience has made me more well-rounded and resilient.

The track ahead

Looking forward, ZHU Junying has clear goals. In the near term, she aims to improve her competitive level and achieve new breakthroughs to bring honor to her team and university. Long-term, she hopes to maintain her passion for running, continually surpass herself, and compete on higher stages to showcase the excellence of Chinese youth athletes. As a ZJU student, she also values her academic journey and is determined to excel both on the track and in scholarship.

In ZHU's running, we see more than just athletic victory. We witness a young person's growth: she has learned that sustained success comes not from momentary luck, but from daily persistence; not from solitary effort, but from the support of teammates, coaches, university, and family. She embodies the spirit of Zhejiang University’s motto “Seeking Truth and Pursuing Innovation,” and demonstrates the vibrant strength of China’s youth in the new era.

Adapted and translated from the article written by LIU Xinqiao
Translator: LIU Zhenghao (’2026, Law)
Photo: the interviewees
Editor: HAN Xiao