Wang Nan and her teammates win gold at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Szeged, Hungary, on May 9. [Photo/Tide News]

At the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Cup in Szeged, Hungary, on May 9, Wang Nan from Qingyuan county of Lishui, Zhejiang province, and her teammates won the women's 500-meter kayak four (K4) gold medal with a time of 1 min 29.61 sec.

The race took place with wind speed at 2.38 meters per second and water temperature at 19.81 C, testing the paddlers' rhythm control.

The Chinese team showed strong stroke frequency and coordination, leading at the halfway mark with 43.85 seconds. In the final sprint, facing a fierce chase from Spain, Wang and her teammates held their ground and crossed the finish line just 0.02 seconds ahead.

Born in 2000 in Yushang township of Qingyuan county, Wang has been a key force in the team. She joined the provincial team in 2014 and has since risen with determination and talent.

From winning gold at the Asian Games to claiming double gold at the National Games and the Asian Championships, she has become a mainstay of Chinese women's canoeing.

After the race, Wang expressed gratitude to her hometown, saying that Qingyuan has always been her source of support and that its encouragement has been her driving force.