In this photo taken Thursday, June 16, 2016, a young child practices on still rings at the Xuhui Sports School near the slogans “Set ambitious goals from young” in Shanghai, China. The Xuhui Sports School is representative of the state-led sports training system established in the 1950s to churn out hundreds of Olympic gold medalists and world champions but increasingly voices of criticism have grown decrying the state system for its notoriously ruthless, rigid training regimes, exploitation of young athletes and proclivity for dishonest practices such as game rigging. AP
BEIJING — China is sending 416 athletes in total to the Rio de Janeiro Games, including 35 former Olympic champions.
China’s team includes 160 men and 256 women, who will compete in 210 events across 26 sports.
Cai Zhenhua, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport, was quoted by state media as saying Monday that China’s entire delegation — including coaches and other staff — will be its largest ever at 711. Among them will be 29 coaches hired from overseas.
China’s youngest competitor is 14-year-old swimmer Ai Yanhan. Beijing 2008 Olympics shooting champion Chen Ying, 39, is the oldest and will be appearing at her fourth Olympics.
China won the second largest number of medals at the 2012 London Olympics after the United States, including 38 golds.