Since its inception, Pao School has emphasized boosting students’ physical health. It is one of the few schools that offers the IB subject of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences (SEHS). In recent years, the high school sports team has brought new technologies into the sports classroom, such as GPS technology and heart rate monitors, allowing a more close integration of the study of physical education and STEM. In addition to physical education classes, the school offers a variety of sports activities. As one of the founding schools of the Shanghai Middle School Sports Association (SSSA), Pao School holds several SSSA inter-school league games every week.
Recently, YK Pao School’s Songjiang and Hongqiao campuses had the honour of hosting two Olympic champions. Their visits have inspired students, reminding them of the importance of sportsmanship, hard work and the pursuit of excellence.
On 4th November, Olympic champion Xu Lijia visited Songjiang campus, the second time that she has came to Pao School to share her experience with students. The visit was also captured by news agency Great Sports (SMG), which documented the visit through live broadcast.
Xu Lijia is not only an impressive sportswoman but a groundbreaker for Chinese sailing. She first won a gold medal at the Asian Games at the early age of 14. Quickly entering the world stage, she won the Sailing World Championship title in the women's Optimist class for two consecutive years in 2001 and 2002. In 2005 she began competing in Laser Radial (a one-person sailing dingy), soon becoming victorious in the 2006 World Championship at the age of 18 – the first world sailing championship won by China. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics, she won a bronze and gold medal respectively. Xu’s gold medal marked a first for China, as it is the first Olympic gold in the history of sailing in Asia. In recognition of these accomplishments, she was named the International Sailing Federation's Best Female Athlete in November 2012.
During the visit, Xu Lijia spoke of her experience as an athlete and the many challenges she has overcome on the road to Olympic glory. The students were deeply moved and inspired by how Xu has faced difficulties throughout her athletic career. For instance, she was born hearing-impaired – her hearing ability is just half that of the average person – and she is almost blind in her left eye. As a child, she nearly drowned at sea during an accident in training. Finally, due to a tumour, Xu almost required an amputation of her leg below the knee and was forced to miss the 2004 Olympics for treatment. Nevertheless, driven by her passion for sports, Xu has persisted in her athletic career and triumphed over these physical obstacles one at a time.
The interactive session provided an opportunity to discuss how to tackle self-doubt. Xu Lijia advised students to take things in stride and find good ways to alleviate stress – such as reading a good book. She urged them to move from focusing on themselves to a more holistic perspective that takes into consideration the wider world, saying, "Climb high and look far!”
President Xu Yongchu presents Xu Lijia
with a calligraphy work by David (Y11)
Xu Lijia presented the trophy she won at the 2016 Laser Radial Masters World Championship to Pao School
Ms. Song Hui, deputy director of the Shanghai Sports Bureau, and Mr. Tang Lifeng,
secretary of the General Branch of the Great Sports Party Branch, presented commemorative gifts to Pao School
Xu Lijia came to the gym and guided the students through some basic training
On 17th November, Paralympic swimming champion Wang Jiachao visited Hongqiao campus to tell students about his life and how he won an Olympic gold medal. Wang Jiachao is the only athlete currently participating in the Paralympic Games in swimming and triathlon for China. Throughout his career, he has competed in four Olympic Games: Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), London (2012), and Tokyo (2020). He has won multiple medals at the Olympics, a gold, four silver and one bronze, and has competed in more than 20 World Championships.
In just one hour, Wang told the students about his eventful childhood, inspirational life as a teenager, the road to becoming a Paralympic champion, his postgraduate study and how he became No. 3 in the world in the triathlon. He encouraged students to make the most of their current learning opportunities. To that end, Wang Jiachao explained how he worked hard to go to university, including visiting various schools and asking the admissions departments about entrance as an athlete with a disability. Despite numerous setbacks, he stayed the course and finally joined Yunnan Normal University, where he has since earned a master’s degree.
Wang Jiachao made such a good impression on Pao students that he was interrupted by the enthusiastic applause of the audience several times. At present, Wang Jiachao is active in youth sports education. He hopes to instil in others his perseverance and patience, as he believes that having a strong body and determined spirit can allow us to make the most of our future.
Pao School students have been enjoying ‘exercising persistently’ while strengthening their physical health, which also benefits their mental health too. The visit of these two Olympic champions has not only been a sports activity, but also an inspirational firsthand account aimed at passing on a spirit of outstanding sportsmanship.
—— David Xiong
Director of High School Chinese Academics
