June marks another graduation season—a time of both endings and new beginnings. For athletes who have brought glory to the nation on the field, graduation represents yet another "championship" title in their lives as students.

Recently, Beijing Sport University held its 2025 commencement ceremony. Olympic fencing champion Sun Yiwen, a representative of the university’s graduate-level “Champion Class,” led fellow graduates in revisiting a letter from President Xi Jinping addressed to the 2016 cohort of Champion Class students. Drawing from her own experiences, she shared the glory and challenges of a competitive sports career and how the calm and resolve she cultivated in sports translated into focused academic efforts. She encouraged her peers to embrace a spirit of responsibility and perseverance, to study diligently, train hard, work actively, and contribute to building a strong sporting nation while spreading positive energy throughout society.

Following the ceremony, Sun Yiwen posted on social media: “I’ve graduated with my master’s from BSU. Being both an athlete and a student has brought me double the growth. I’m grateful to Beijing Sport University for nurturing me and thankful for all the experiences and encounters. As one chapter ends with the sweep of the sword, a new journey begins. I’ll continue to pursue my passion, overcome obstacles, and forge ahead.” In her group photo with fellow Champion Class graduates, several familiar Olympic faces appeared—among them swimming champion Xu Jiayu.

Just a month ago, Xu Jiayu wrapped up the 2025 National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen with five gold medals. Now he's setting his sights on Los Angeles. Immediately afterward, he rushed back to BSU to complete his graduate thesis defense. On graduation day, Xu shared his own photos on social media, reflecting on achieving another personal milestone.

In his photo collage was a picture with fellow classmate and Winter Olympics figure skating champion Sui Wenjing. Sui remarked that her journey from athlete to student—spending time in classrooms, labs, and training halls—helped her discover the charm of academics. “Serving the nation through sport and pursuing excellence—farewell for now, friends of Information Road 48. Until we meet again.”

Sui had previously suffered a serious ankle injury, which led her to reflect on how to better protect the next generation of skaters from such harm. This became the topic of her master’s thesis in the Champion Class. According to BSU’s published list of 2025 prospective PhD candidates, Sui has been admitted for doctoral study, with a research focus on sports rehabilitation and health management.

In December last year, Sui announced her return to training and preparations for the Milan Winter Olympics. Just a few weeks ago, the Chinese Figure Skating Association released the team lineup for the 2025/2026 ISU Grand Prix season, confirming that Sui Wenjing and Han Cong will reunite on the international stage for the first time since the Beijing Winter Olympics. Sui continues to thrive both academically and athletically—the champion’s journey goes on.

Meanwhile, at Southeast University in Nanjing, another Olympic champion also celebrated graduation. “The tassel on my cap just moved from the right to the left,” Olympic swimming champion Zhang Yufei wrote on social media. This summer, Zhang completed her postgraduate studies and received her master’s degree. Last fall, she made a memorable appearance at the university’s 2024 freshman orientation, where she stood as a student representative, alumna, mentor, and postgraduate of the School of Physical Education. With the Paris Olympics having just concluded, she declared: “When the country calls and we are still young—that’s the most romantic thing in life.”

The stories of these champions are far from over. They continue to write the chapters of youth with dedication and hard work, showcasing that this is truly their time to shine.