China's rising stars preparing to shine at LA 2028

Alongside sprint sensation Chen Yujie, the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games showcased a promising new generation of Chinese athletes. Here are five young talents who could also make their mark at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics:

Yu Zidi (Swimming)

At just 13, Yu was announced as the women's Most Valuable Player of the Asian Games on Sunday. She claimed three individual titles in medley and butterfly in Nagoya, setting Games records in all three events. Her extraordinary early progress makes the teenager one of China's most intriguing prospects heading toward Los Angeles.

Zhang Zhanshuo (Swimming)

Zhang made Asian Games history in Nagoya, becoming the first swimmer to win seven gold medals at a single Asiad. The 19-year-old claimed four individual freestyle titles and three relay victories, underlining his versatility and endurance. With two years to further develop, Zhang could emerge as a major force in distance freestyle at LA 2028.

Yan Ziyi (Athletics)

Yan, 18, produced one of the Games' standout performances, winning the women's javelin with a 70.46-meter throw — an Asian Games record — in a single attempt. She has already thrown 71.74m this year, again on her first attempt, at the Diamond League meeting in Xiamen. She also won in Oslo, Paris and Monaco, exceeding 67m every time, before claiming the season title in Brussels and ranking world No 1.

Chen Yuanjiang (Athletics)

Chen underlined China's emerging strength in the men's hurdles by winning the 110m race in Nagoya with a time of 13.15 seconds. The 20-year-old combines explosive speed with growing international experience as he looks toward LA28.

Qiu Qiyuan (Artistic gymnastics)

A former world champion on the uneven bars, Qiu added two Asian Games golds to her resume in Nagoya. She helped China secure the women's team title before dominating the uneven bars final with a stellar 15.100 points tally. With the LA 2028 Olympics firmly in her sights, the 19-year-old remains a prime contender.