Wang Congkang in competition. [Photo/jinhua.com.cn]
Jinhua-born canoeist Wang Congkang is poised for his second Olympic appearance at the upcoming Paris Games, following his debut at the Tokyo Olympics. The General Administration of Sport's Water Sports Management Center recently announced the list of 34 athletes who qualified for the Paris Olympics canoeing events, with Wang among their ranks.
Wang, who began his canoeing journey in 2008 at Hangzhou's Water Sports Center, quickly rose to prominence by winning a national championship at just 18 years old. His Olympic journey started in Tokyo 2021, where he and his teammate Bu Tingkai secured an 8th place finish in the men's K-2 1,000m event, setting a new record for China in the category.
In August 2023, Wang's team earned their Paris Olympic berth by qualifying in the men's K-4 500m event at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships. He continued to shine at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, winning gold in both the men's K-2 500m and K-4 500m sprint events.
This May, Wang, alongside teammates Bu Tingkai, Zhang Dong, and Dong Yi, clinched a silver medal in the men's K-4 500m at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Poznan, Poland.
Adding to the excitement, Wang's spouse, Li Dongyin, is also on the Olympic team, making them a dynamic duo in the canoeing world as they prepare to compete together once again on the grandest stage of all.
