At first glance, it’s hard to associate this short but sturdy young man with a world champion in climbing. Yet, since he first touched the sport in 2005, he has achieved the climbing grand slam, claiming over 20 world climbing championships and more than 30 other titles of various sizes. These include the World Games championship, four World Climbing Championship titles, climbing World Cup victories, second place at the World Extreme Games, and breaking his own world record six times within five years. All of this was accomplished with just a single safety rope, facing the cliff face—climbing, jumping, maneuvering, and turning to reach the top in the shortest time possible.He is the Chinese athlete with the most individual world championship titles in non-Olympic sports.
Image 1: Zhong Qixin, Captain of the Chinese Climbing Team
"Speed climbing was dominated by the West for over 30 years. Now, I am the world’s first speed climbing grand slam winner, and I’ve broken that monopoly," said Zhong Qixin confidently. This year, he secured the overall championship title at the 2015 Speed Climbing World Cup. With that, this young man from Jiangxi has claimed all the major competition titles in the world.
Image 2: Zhong Qixin in an Intense Competition
Climbing is a comprehensive sport that requires professional, day-in and day-out training. After becoming a professional athlete, Zhong came to understand the meaning of perseverance. Standing just over 1.70 meters tall, he competes against European and American opponents who often exceed 1.90 meters—and he holds his own. Because in his view, no matter how difficult it is, one must accept the challenge; overcoming obstacles is the essence of climbing.
In 2007, as a newcomer, Zhong made his debut at the World Championships and astonishingly broke the world record. The first time he won a world championship, foreign competitors even provocatively taunted him: "They walked up to me and said, 'Let’s compete again next time.' Their disdainful tone radiated genuine contempt. They thought letting an Asian win just once was nothing but a fluke." But through repeated victories, Zhong proved with his results that Asians and Chinese can indeed become world champions in climbing. As he lives by the motto: “The road to success isn’t crowded, because few are willing to persevere.”
Becoming a Climbing Ambassador
Having won many championships, Zhong Qixin has already proven that Chinese people are fully capable of excelling in climbing. He hopes to help more people understand, try, and fall in love with the sport.
Image 3: Zhong Qixin Competing Against an Opponent
Climbing is one of today’s most fashionable and thrilling extreme sports, yet it is not yet very popular in China. In Zhong’s view, this is related to cultural characteristics. There are approximately 35 million climbing enthusiasts in Europe and America, where the culture values challenges, and people are willing to try new and exciting things. Climbing is just like that—you only fall in love with it after you try it.
Zhong Qixin said that he has already achieved all kinds of records in speed climbing. His next major goal may be to promote the sport through more resources and platforms. Climbing has just been added to the Asian Games, and it may be officially announced for the Olympics next year. So, if he’s still able at that time, he wants to go for the Asian Games or Olympic titles. Climbing has officially been included in the 2018 Asian Games, and Zhong is very likely to compete. Moreover, the 2020 Olympics is expected to add new events, with climbing being one of the five candidate sports. Zhong stated that competing for the Asian or Olympic titles is also his dream, and standing on the Olympic stage one day would be the greatest motivation for him.
Zhong Qixin also has a personal dream for promoting climbing: to establish a climbing club in the future, personally design climbing walls, and teach climbing skills himself. Of course, as the current captain of the Chinese climbing team, he still faces numerous competitions, and performing well on the field is also a great way to promote the sport.
Success Means Spending Time with Family
Climbing has brought Zhong Qixin honor after honor—even his wife is someone he met through climbing. "We got to know each other because of climbing, though she wasn’t an athlete, just a fan. Once, when I was competing elsewhere, she heard that the Chinese team was there and went to watch the competition. That’s how we met." In Wujiang, Jiangsu, Zhong Qixin won the annual championship. After stepping down from the podium, he got down on one knee and formally proposed to her again.
Zhong Qixin feels he has fought hard for ten years and owes a lot to his family. He said, "I’m very grateful to my wife. This year I got married, and with her constant encouragement and support, I suddenly won the annual championship again. She’s helped me a lot in my life, and helped me achieve my dreams."
In his professional field, Zhong Qixin has achieved great success. But in his wife’s eyes, he is just a dedicated and loving husband. Family is the energy station and safe haven for a warrior. Zhong Qixin’s greatest wish is to balance his career and family in the future and start a new chapter in life.