Confident 'kids' games' changers
Victorious young athletes in Nagoya lead China's new wave of composed, exuberant international competitors
Moments after China's Chen Yuanjiang crossed the finish line first in the men's 110-meter hurdles final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, he let out a cry that was indicative of the nation's new youthful sporting confidence.
The 20-year-old clocked 13.15 seconds to win gold, then turned toward the stadium stands in Nagoya, Japan, and shouted — "Who is first? China!"
It was an unfiltered burst of emotion on that rainy night — confident, youthful and unmistakably personal.
His scream of joy was an insight into a new generation of Chinese athletes that emerged in Nagoya. They were not only winning medals and breaking records, but also showing a growing confidence on the international stage — composed, exuberant and unafraid to express themselves.
The terms "little brother" and "little sister", affectionate expressions to describe young Chinese athletes, became popular terms on social media during the Games.
Of the 815 athletes on China's delegation, 548 were competing at an Asian Games for the first time, while athletes born in 2005 or later accounted for 27 percent of the delegation.
China finished at the top of the medal table with 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze medals, its biggest gold medal haul at an Asian Games held outside China.
But beyond the numbers, Nagoya showed how these young athletes are learning to compete, win and overcome setbacks with the Los Angeles Olympics less than two years away.
