Chinese-Canadian sets sights on Olympics

A Chinese-Canadian heptathlon star is set to fulfill a family dream to represent China at the Olympics.

Running and jumping are part of childhood fun for almost everyone, but they signified more for young athlete Nina Schultz from New Westminster, in western Canada, since she first stepped on the track at about age 10.

The granddaughter of China’s national high-jumping champions, Schultz, 19, is competing at the National Games in Tianjin as one of eight foreigners of Chinese origin or Chinese living overseas who are approved to participate in the quadrennial event.

“It was my grandparents’ idea. I’m so excited to come back to compete at such a big event, which I never did before in Canada,” Schultz said after the preliminary javelin round in Tianjin on Saturday.

Schultz’s grandmother, Zheng Fengrong, jumped 1.77 meters at a Beijing event in 1957 to break the women’s world record at that time. Her grandfather, Duan Qiyan, won the men’s high jump at the first National Games in 1959.

A versatile product of her grandparents’ Chinese-style training regimen, Schultz has developed a promising career in the heptathlon, a physically demanding event combining seven disciplines — the 200and 800-meter sprints, 100meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, javelin and shot put. She finished sixth at last year’s World Under-20 Championships.

Because of a tight schedule, Schultz only signed up for javelin and shot put in Tianjin, as she has to report to Kansas State University after the event to develop her talent in the US collegiate program.

“I am not fully prepared, but I just wanted it so much, to come back to compete in Chi- na,” said Schultz, who arrived three days before her first javelin round.

With both of her grandparents watching at the stadium in Tianjin, Schultz said she feels the burden of her family’s hope on her shoulders to make up for her grandparents’ regret: being unable to compete in the Olympics. Because China didn’t officially restore its membership with the International Olympic Committee until 1979, her grandparents had no access the Games during their prime. Zheng was later chosen as one of eight athletes to carry the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics to honor her accomplishments.

“My goal is to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics representing China, and to win a medal in the heptathlon,” she said.

I am not fully prepared, but I just wanted it so much, to come back to compete in China.”

Nina Schultz,