Chinese divers Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi compete in the women's synchronized 10-meter platform diving final at the Paris Olympic Games on July 31, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT

China's General Administration of Sport published a list on Tuesday of 1,101 outstanding athletes up for undergraduate pre-admission, including several Paris Olympic champions such as Quan Hongchan, Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao. 

The Science and Education Department of the Administration made the announcement on its official website. Diving star Quan is slated for admission to Jinan University, while champion shooters Sheng and Huang are slated for Beijing Sport University and Zhejiang University respectively. The news became a trending topic on China's X-like social media platform Sina Weibo shortly after the announcement. 

Born in 2007, Quan is a member of China's national diving team. She won gold in the women's 10m platform at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, she won gold in both the women's synchronized 10m platform and the individual 10m platform events, becoming the youngest Chinese triple Olympic champion.

In February, Jinan University listed Quan among the proposed pre-admits for 2025 under its special admission program for elite athletes. She is expected to major in sports training. 

Notably, China's star sprinter Su Bingtian was appointed as the dean of the School of Physical Education at Jinan University in April. 

Pre-admissions for elite athletes are not unprecedented in China, Beijing-based sports commentator Wang Dazhao told the Global Times.

For example, Quan's fellow diving champion Chen Yuxi was admitted to Tongji University, and Beijing Winter Olympics gold medalist ­snowboarder Su Yiming was admitted to Tsinghua University.

In January, the General Administration of Sport issued a notice regarding the arrangements for the 2025 pre-admission of outstanding athletes to universities. 

According to the notice, "Based on the Ministry of Education's policies and requirements concerning university admission for outstanding athletes, the General Administration of Sport is responsible for recommending eligible candidates." The document also outlined the criteria for recommendation.

Beyond clarification of specific performance standards in terms of outstanding athletic performance, the notice also noted that the candidate must have no criminal record, doping violations, or record of misconduct in competitions, and the candidate must meet the 2025 national college entrance exam registration criteria and have obtained a registration number from their place of origin. 

"Some universities are competing to recruit star athletes, which helps to boost their visibility and reputation. For the athletes, gaining a university education provides them with more career options after retirement," said Wang.

This pre-admission approach is a win-win for both universities and athletes, some domestic media analyses have pointed out. 

For universities, these outstanding athletes bring with them the spirit of perseverance and patriotism. Their presence can have a positive influence on students. 

For athletes, it serves as a recognition for their years of hard work and dedication. Entering university allows them to further enhance their cultural knowledge and overall capabilities, opening up more possibilities for their future development.