Wu Jinwei Determined to Pursue Paris Olympics Despite Health Challenges

Jayce September 6, 2024 2 0

Despite the necessity of adjusting her diet due to medical treatment, which limits her to only one meal a day, Wu Jinwei remains steadfast in her pursuit of Olympic participation.

Wu Jinwei

Wu Jinwei previously revealed that following a colon resection surgery in 2019, she had to modify her dietary habits and rely on medication to continue her professional career, rather than opting to retire.

However, this regimen means Wu Jinwei typically eats only one meal a day, usually dinner, which affects her performance during morning or midday matches. She often feels drained after matches and even nearly faints due to the strain. Despite these challenges, Wu Jinwei expressed her enjoyment of competing.

Before her illness, Wu Jinwei had an illustrious career, having won the World Junior Championships twice and a gold medal at the Youth Olympics. She had the potential to become a top-tier women’s singles player. Despite facing numerous setbacks, Wu Jinwei does not dwell on self-pity. Instead, she continues to wield her racket and step onto the court, striving towards her goals.

One of Wu Jinwei’s biggest dreams is to participate in the Olympics. She is now focusing on qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, she said, “Since the surgery, I’ve had to take medication regularly due to abdominal pain, which disrupts my sleep quality as I wake up multiple times during the night. With the increased intensity of training and competition now, I’m forced to take higher doses of medication, which brings greater side effects. I can only eat one meal a day, usually at night, so when I have training or matches in the morning or afternoon, I often lack sufficient strength, similar to fasting.”

Many people facing similar challenges might choose to give up, but Wu Jinwei persists in pursuit of her dream. She affirmed her determination, saying, “I have confidence that I can adapt to everything I’ve experienced. I receive a lot of support from my family, friends, coaches, and fans, which motivates me to keep moving forward.”

After nearly two years of struggling since her surgery, Wu Jinwei’s sacrifices began to pay off in early September when she successfully reached the final of the Vietnam Badminton Super 100 event, though she did not clinch her first-ever BWF World Tour level event championship.

Nevertheless, this achievement has bolstered Wu Jinwei’s confidence: “Reaching the final in Vietnam has truly boosted my confidence. Now, I just want to become stronger and seek continuous improvement. My ultimate goal is to qualify for the Olympics, and I will keep striving until I achieve that goal.”