At the 15th National Games in Guangdong, young Chinese equestrian riders from Team Shanghai, including 17-year-old Gu Zhanzhao and Xu Mofei, showcased their talents with distinctive freestyle dressage routines set to unconventional music like The Hunger Games and Queen’s We Will Rock You. Their performances helped Team Shanghai secure gold in the team event and earned Xu a silver medal in the individual final. These riders, who have trained extensively in Europe, embody a new generation bringing advanced techniques and fresh perspectives to Chinese equestrian sports, aiming to elevate the country’s presence on the international stage.

Veteran riders like Liu Tao praised the young athletes for benefiting from early, high-level training abroad, contrasting with the older generation’s more trial-and-error approach. The veterans continue to compete alongside the newcomers, fostering a spirit of perseverance and mutual respect. Both generations share a common ambition: to see China achieve greater success in global equestrian competitions, including the Olympics, signaling a promising future for the sport in the country.