By Xinhua sportswriter Wu Shuguang
TIANJIN, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Nina Schultz is carrying on a family tradition in track and field by taking part in the javelin and shot put competitions at the ongoing 13th Chinese National Games.
The 18-year-old Schultz, a U20 heptathlon athlete, finished 18th in javelin with a throw of 45.04m on Saturday, but she made history as the only Chinese Canadian to compete in China's quadrennial sports gala. She is not the first person in her immediate family to shatter records here at the National Games.
Schultz's grandmother Zheng Fengrong completed a high jump of 1.77m in 1957. Aged 20 at the time, she beat the previous world record 1.76m. The result made her the first Chinese to break an athletics world record. But Zheng never had a chance to compete in the Olympics. Now aged 80, Zheng is here in Tianjin to support her granddaughter and watch her compete.
"I came here not out of a sudden impulse, but because I always wanted to fulfill my grandmother's dream of competing in the Olympics," said Schultz in quite fluent Chinese.
She is currently applying for Chinese citizenship in order to be able to represent China in the Olympics.
"I want to participate in the 2020 Games to honor my grandma, ideally with a gold medal," added Schultz, who just flew to China on 31 August.
Schultz comes from a family with track and field tradition that goes back two generations. Her mother, a high jump athlete, immigrated to Canada in the 1990s. Schultz's grandfather, Duan Qiyan, won the high jump championship at the 1st Chinese National Games.
Her family worked hard to pass on their love of the sport to Schultz. She says she started training for track and field events under the guidance of her grandparents at the age of 8.
"At that time, I had no idea what my grandma had achieved. I want to be better than her, even though I know how difficult it is to break a world record now," said Schultz, currently a student at Kansas State University.
Schultz currently trains with the renowned K-State track and field coach Cliff Rovelto, who served as an assistant coach for the U.S. at the Rio Olympics.
"Nina trains hard. I am sure she will improve a lot with Mr. Rovelto," said Zheng.
