Be the best of yourself

On October 12, 2025, the “Oriental Pearl Cup” Shanghai Indoor Rowing Competition Finals of the City Amateur League successfully concluded at the Urban Square of the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower in Shanghai.

Wu Yijun, a student from Guanghua Academy, won the silver medal in the Open Category 500-meter event.

As a newcomer who had been rowing for just over a month, Wu described the race as “extremely challenging.” He recalled that his legs went from soreness to numbness, but it was his belief in “not wanting to lose” that pushed him to persevere to the end.

The indoor rowing machine, also known as an ergometer, is a professional training device that simulates on-water rowing and can accurately measure an athlete’s power output during training.

This is not the first time Guanghua students have excelled in such competitions. Earlier, Li Yanxi placed third in the Youth Open Category A 500-meter event at the Shanghai Indoor Rowing Competition. Later, he and Yao Tian teamed up to earn third place in the Youth U17 500-meter M4X event at the Shenyang Rowing Open.

These accomplishments highlight the effectiveness of the systematic training conducted by the Guanghua Academy Rowing Team. Since its founding, the team has maintained a rigorous schedule of six training sessions per week, focusing on comprehensive physical conditioning and technical skill development.

Under the guidance of Coach Han, former captain of the Chinese women’s national rowing team, a 2000 Sydney Olympian, World Cup silver medalist, and Asian Games champion, all team members have demonstrated remarkable dedication and progress.

Reflecting on his training experience, Wu shared:

“We train six days a week, with three sessions focused on ergometer workouts. Each time, I’m completely exhausted—I just collapse afterward.
But on-water training is truly enjoyable. The first time I rowed a single scull, I was so nervous that I overturned from overexertion. After that, I gained confidence and never capsized again.
The coach says I have some talent and encourages me to keep going. My next goal is to break the 7-minute 10-second mark!”

Guanghua Academy collaborates with top U.S. universities through its “Double-Excellent” student-athlete direct admission programs, providing multiple pathways for higher education and supporting students’ dual growth in academics and athletics.

The school’s professional college counseling team offers personalized study-abroad planning and continuous mentorship. In addition, renowned U.S. university head coaches are invited to conduct one-on-one interview training, helping students sharpen their competitiveness and improve admission outcomes.

Guanghua Academy remains committed to offering student-athletes comprehensive training resources and state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring they can balance training, competition, and academics effectively.

We warmly welcome more students with athletic aspirations to join Guanghua Academy and pursue excellence—both on the water and beyond.