China's Yang Junxuan, Tang Muhan, Zhang Yufei and Li Bingjie react after setting a world record in women's 4 x 200m freestyle relay final in Tokyo on July 29, 2021. (PHOTO / IC)

Lying on her back in the swimming pool with her arms rotating wildly like windmills, 11-year-old backstroker Zhang Mengran knows exactly where she is going.

After watching 19-year-old swimmer Li Bingjie and her teammates win the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Zhang wants to become an Olympic champion. "Wait and see, one day that will be me," Zhang told her mother on July 29 as she cheered on the relay team.

Baoding, Hebei province, known to many as China's "City of Champions", has nurtured 24 world champions, including six Olympic gold medalists, 32 winners of Asian competitions and more than 150 national champions.

China's Pang Wei and Jiang Ranxin during the victory ceremony of the 10m air pistol mixed team at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug 3, 2021. (PHOTO / IC)

Three gold medalists in Tokyo are from Baoding: Pang Wei in the 10m air pistol mixed team, Wang Han in the women's synchronized 3m springboard and Li in the relay.

Baoding's athletes have a proud ancestry to draw from. The city is where farmers and nomadic tribes converged centuries ago and its character has been forged by conflict, and even war, in ancient times

The city's constellation of sports stars includes retired diver Guo Jingjing who won multiple Olympic gold medals and world championships.

Sports fans in Baoding rarely miss a competition featuring their homegrown heroes, and excitement runs high.

"I'm very proud of being a Baoding resident. How great they are!" Weibo user toudingguo said in an online comment.

The user went on to say that Baoding is not only home to "delicious lyurou huoshao (donkey burger), but world champions".

Baoding's athletes have a proud ancestry to draw from. The city is where farmers and nomadic tribes converged centuries ago and its character has been forged by conflict, and even war, in ancient times.

Nowadays, life is much less bellicose, but residents, both young and old, enjoy exercise as part of their daily lives.

Xu Dongjun, 39, runs almost every morning in a park near his home in the Boshiyuan residential community. "There's a 310-meter circular track. It's very convenient for us nearby residents," he said.

Besides running, Xu likes to play table tennis after work.

China's Wang Han (top) and Shi Tingmao compete in the women's 3-meter synchronized springboard diving final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 25, 2021. The pair won China's first diving gold medal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. (WANG JINGQIANG / XINHUA)

Activity for public

"When the night comes, the tables are very popular. Some seniors and youngsters gather here after dinner to play several rounds," Xu said, adding that while none of them are professionals, they get a lot of pleasure from the exercise.

Last year, a 70-year-old stadium in downtown Baoding was renovated and opened to the public. It boasts an eight-lane 400m synthetic running track, basketball courts, a shot put field and a soccer pitch.

Each city resident has 2.38 square meters of sports area provided to them, more than the provincial average, according to the city's sports bureau.

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But chief to its success is Baoding's strong sports education program. The city founded the country's first sports kindergarten in 1984, which has produced three world champions and 10 national champions in different events.

World champion divers Guo Jingjing (right) and Chen Ruolin are seen at a diving competition in Tokyo, July 26, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Wang, the Tokyo gold medalist in the women's springboard, practiced gymnastics at the kindergarten when she was a child and was later selected for further development in diving.

Chief to the success is Baoding's strong sports education program. The city founded the country's first sports kindergarten in 1984, which has produced three world champions and 10 national champions in different events

A total of 348 sports schools nurture and identify talented young athletes in swimming, track and field, volleyball and martial arts.

Regular schools also play a role in developing young people's interest in sports. For example, the city's No 1 Middle School excels at youth soccer and has won several national championships. Team members have traveled overseas to represent China in international competitions.

Xinshichang Primary School provided the first exposure to swimming for Olympic champions Wang and Li.

"Baoding has a solid foundation of sports for the masses, which helps nurture high-level athletes," said Wang Chengfeng, head of the city's sports bureau.

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In addition, various games and sports festivals are held every year, such as a long-distance race and mountain climbing festival. Sporting events are also staged in communities, schools and companies, which provide opportunities for Baoding residents to participate. "As long as a kid has an interest, he can find a place to learn and a game to compete in," Wang said.