Ye Zhaoying Conquers 7,500m Muztagh Ata, Next Stop: Everest
Badminton Queen “Transforms” into Mountaineering Enthusiast
Remember Ye Zhaoying, the legendary figure in badminton history who had almost disappeared from the public eye after the Sydney Olympics? Recently, Ye announced on Weibo that she has successfully summited Mount Muztagh Ata, which stands at an altitude of 7,546 meters. Many were astonished—how did the former badminton queen transform into a mountaineering champion?
Successfully Summited Muztagh Ata
Next Goal: Everest Next Year
On July 29, Ye Zhaoying announced on Weibo that she set off at 4:00 AM, reached the summit at 7:15 AM, and returned to base camp by 5:00 PM on the same day.
Yesterday, in an interview with reporters, Ye shared some stories about her journey before and after climbing Muztagh Ata. She said she started climbing last May. “I happened to be gathering with a group of friends, planning to climb the Four Girls Mountain for May Day. Wang Yongfeng, the head of the Chinese Mountaineering Team, was also at the gathering, and after that, they kind of talked me into it...” That time, she successfully summited the Four Girls Mountain. Since then, Ye’s passion for climbing has become unstoppable, and her next target was set on Muztagh Ata in Xinjiang.
Last year, Ye attempted to climb Muztagh Ata, “After reaching Camp II at an altitude of 6,300 meters, due to bad weather and heavy snowfall, we had to return to base camp.”
This year marks Ye’s second attempt at Muztagh Ata. “This time, with more experience, the climb felt a bit easier.” However, she also paid a significant price: “I lost at least two toenails, my fingers were in excruciating pain, my hair was falling out in clumps, and the altitude sickness was absolutely unbearable.”
Yesterday, Ye told reporters that she has set her next mountaineering goal as the world’s highest peak—Mount Everest. She said she wants to become the first world champion to summit Everest. “My main focus right now is preparing for next year’s Everest climb. I need to resume high-intensity training and participate in the training camps organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association.” Ye has already obtained the qualification of a national-level mountaineering athlete.
Tennis Serve Speed Surpasses Li Na
Preparing to Enter Professional Golf
In fact, not just mountaineering—Ye Zhaoying is exceptionally talented in many sports and is truly a born sports prodigy.
During her athletic career, Ye was the queen of badminton. Aside from the Olympic gold medal, she won nearly all the world championship titles. And in the decade-plus since her retirement, the talent she has demonstrated across various sports fields has been astonishing.
Shortly after learning to play tennis, she displayed strong technical and tactical skills. Her fastest recorded tennis serve reached 173 km/h. For context, among China’s top female tennis players, Li Na had the highest serve speed, but even she only reached 171 km/h.
Golf is another of Ye’s strengths—she has now stabilized at a score in the 80s. After winning countless amateur celebrity and invitational tournaments in previous years, Ye told reporters she plans to completely step away from amateur competitions and enter professional golf. She has already participated in professional events such as the Ladies European Tour and the China Open. Just before her recent Muztagh Ata climb, she returned from a golf tournament.
When learning to ski, Ye also showed exceptional talent, performing far above average. In addition, she is very fond of long-distance running and has signed up for this year’s Beijing Marathon half-marathon. “I feel like I was born for sports,” Ye said.