Full coverage: 2016 Rio Olympics

This year, China has sent its biggest delegation so far to compete at the event. More than 700 people have flown to Brazil, among them 400 athletes. Over 70 per cent of athletes are competing at the Olympics for the first time this year. The group also includes Olympic veterans, with thirty five gold medallists in the team, including Du Li, Sun Yang and Lin Dan. 51 world record holders such as Ning Zetao, Ma Long and Wang Yihan are also part of the delegation.

China has vowed to win more medals this years in its less dominant track-and-field events with a record-breaking fifty six athletes sent to Rio to compete in this discipline. The average age of the athletes is 24. The youngest is 14-year-old swimmer Ai Yanhan, while at 39 shooting athlete Chen Ying is the oldest. For other veteran athletes like diving champion Wu Minxia and basketball player Yi Jianlian, it is the fourth time they have participated in the Games.