From China’s first Olympic gold medal to Paris Olympic Games’ first gold medal- Xu Haifeng talks about the inheritance of the Olympic spirit

As the footage of China winning its first Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games played on a loop, Xu Haifeng stood thoughtfully in front of the screen, gazing at his younger self. After a moment of reflection, he moved to a nearby display case to inspect a gold medal nestled inside. This particular medal represents the first Olympic gold medal for the Chinese team at the upcoming Paris Olympics—again, won with a gun.

At the event from October 9 to 13, the 2024 China Sports Culture Expo and the China Sports Tourism Expo took place in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The exhibition featured hundreds of artifacts and sports artworks, chronicling 75 years of sports history since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Among the many Olympic champions present, Xu Haifeng drew enthusiastic crowds of all ages as he shared the stories behind his gold medals.

Looking back on his historic victory in the men’s 50-meter pistol event at the 1984 Olympics, Xu remarked, “During the competition, I just focused on doing my best and performing at my normal level. I wasn’t particularly excited during the match or at the medal ceremony because it was just me doing what I usually do. But bringing honor to my country was incredibly fulfilling.”

Xu Haifeng held onto that significant gold medal for less than a month before lending it to the China History Museum, now known as the National Museum of China, for an exhibition. Ultimately, he decided to donate the medal. “The achievements we secured were thanks to the country’s support,” he explained. “Therefore, this gold medal rightfully belongs to the nation. By donating it, more people can appreciate it without the worry of losing it.”

Now, 40 years since Xu’s groundbreaking victory, China’s sports landscape has transformed dramatically. He reminisced about the early days when China was just beginning to integrate into the global sports community and athletes had relatively basic equipment. “We used domestically-made bullets. Only during competitions would we receive 300 imported bullets for practice. After I won, an American remarked that we triumphed with ‘swords and spears’ against ‘foreign guns and cannons,’ which felt incredible. Today’s young athletes are far luckier.”

For the younger generation of athletes, Xu offered heartfelt advice: “They now have better conditions, superior equipment, and more competition opportunities than we ever did. These favorable circumstances can help them achieve great results. I hope young people cherish this exceptional moment, give their all, and make even greater contributions to our country.”