During the Dong’an Lake Cup · 2026 National Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Chengdu, a heartfelt retirement ceremony was held at the Dong’an Lake Sports Park. Three Olympic gold medalists in artistic gymnastics—Guo Qiqi, Hao Ting, and Huang Zhang Jiayang—officially bid farewell to their athletic careers. The trio were key members of the Chinese team that won the historic first Olympic gold in the artistic gymnastics group all-around event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking a milestone for the sport in China.
As the arena lights dimmed, a short video highlighting the athletes’ journeys and struggles played, setting the stage for the ceremony. After the video, accompanied by the host’s introduction and thunderous applause from the audience, Guo Qiqi, Hao Ting, and Huang Zhang Jiayang walked onto the floor in their team uniforms.
Each champion shared their personal path in artistic gymnastics. Guo Qiqi, from Chongqing, started at age 6 and joined the national team at 21. Hao Ting, from Jiangsu, began at 8 and entered the national team at 17. Huang Zhang Jiayang, from Chengdu in Sichuan, started practicing at 7 and was selected for the national team at 13. Together, they experienced the Tokyo and Paris Olympic cycles, ultimately winning the group all-around gold in Paris with a total score of 69.800, alongside teammates Wang Lanjing and Ding Xinyi.
At the same championship, Wang Lanjing (21) and Ding Xinyi (22) competed as athletes representing the national training first team. Meanwhile, Guo Qiqi, Hao Ting, and Huang Zhang Jiayang took on new roles—respectively serving as a coach, a judge, and a commentator during the event.
During the ceremony’s farewell messages, the three athletes expressed their gratitude to the sport and looked forward to contributing from new perspectives.
