With the Paris 2024 Olympics underway, U.S. badminton star Beiwen Zhang was determined to turn past setbacks into future success. Zhang, who suffered an injury during the Tokyo 2020 Games, was focused on achieving her goal of winning a medal in the upcoming competition.

“My expectation for the Paris Olympics is aiming for medals,” Zhang told uInterview in May. “And then probably not to end my Olympics like last time. Because I ruptured my Achilles during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”

Zhang’s journey to the Olympics has been anything but conventional. Initially introduced to badminton at the age of eight due to health concerns, she quickly developed a passion for the sport. “My parents told me I should do some sports to get a little bit stronger,” she recalled.

Her dedication led her to move from her native China to Singapore at just 13 years old, where she represented the country in badminton for nine years. However, her career faced a turning point when she was released from the Singapore national team. Zhang retired temporarily but soon found a new path that would change her life.

“I moved to the U.S. after a friend suggested I visit and explore,” Zhang explained. “I’ve never been to the U.S., so I flew over, and after some time, I ended up settling down in Las Vegas after meeting the Las Vegas Badminton Club owner.”

Despite her remarkable journey and achievements, Zhang remains cautious about setting specific expectations for Paris. “For badminton, it’s really hard to say we’re going to win or what will happen,” she noted. “I can’t really promise anything, as there are many different situations and factors in such huge events.”

On Thursday, Zhang lost in round 16 of Olympic play.

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