Tokyo Deaflympics: Japan imperial family

Tokyo Deaflympics: Japan imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (3rd from L), Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko meet Japanese swimming ace Ryutaro Ibara after watching swimming races at the Tokyo Deaflympics at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in the capital on Nov. 25, 2025. Ibara has won a career 26 medals at the Deaflympics. (Pool photo)

World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 Kick Off - China

World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 Kick Off - China

An athlete attends a training session for the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, on March 20, 2025. World is all set for the first major global competition since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, when over 500 athletes light up the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 2025. At least 120 countries are sending teams to the three-day event (21-23 March), with 26 gold medals up for grabs at the Nanjing Sports Training Centre in the People's Republic of China. Photo by Li Ming/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 Kick Off - China

World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 Kick Off - China

An athlete attends a training session for the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, on March 20, 2025. World is all set for the first major global competition since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, when over 500 athletes light up the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 2025. At least 120 countries are sending teams to the three-day event (21-23 March), with 26 gold medals up for grabs at the Nanjing Sports Training Centre in the People's Republic of China. Photo by Li Ming/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Made In France Exhibition At Elysee Palace - Paris

Made In France Exhibition At Elysee Palace - Paris

Medals from the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the "Fabrique en France" (Made in France) exhibition at the Elysee Palace in Paris on October 25, 2024. The exhibition gathers companies, craftspeople, associations, producers and manufacturers fully committed to French manufacturing on October 26 and 27, 2024. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

Bruno Retailleau at a farewell ceremony - Velizy-Villacoublay

Bruno Retailleau at a farewell ceremony - Velizy-Villacoublay

medals on a ceremonial jacket of a national police officer attends a farewell ceremony for outgoing General manager of the French National Police (Direction Generale de la Police Nationale, DGPN) Frederic Veaux in Velizy-Villacoublay, southwest of Paris, on September 26, 2024. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

Bruno Retailleau at a farewell ceremony - Velizy-Villacoublay

Bruno Retailleau at a farewell ceremony - Velizy-Villacoublay

French Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau awards medals of merit to police officers attends a farewell ceremony for outgoing General manager of the French National Police (Direction Generale de la Police Nationale, DGPN) Frederic Veaux in Velizy-Villacoublay, southwest of Paris, on September 26, 2024. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

Gymnastics gold medalist Oka awarded in Okayama

Gymnastics gold medalist Oka awarded in Okayama

Japanese gymnast Shinnosuke Oka (R) is given the Okayama prefecture's citizen honor award from Okayama Gov. Ryuta Ibaragi at the prefecture's government office in Okayama on Aug. 26, 2024. The Okayama prefecture native won three gold medals in the men's gymnastics individual all-around, horizontal bar and team events, and a bronze medal in the parallel bars at the Paris Olympics.

Gymnastics gold medalist Oka in Okayama

Gymnastics gold medalist Oka in Okayama

Japanese gymnast Shinnosuke Oka strikes a peace sign at the Okayama prefectural government building in his home prefecture of Okayama on Aug. 26, 2024, with a banner celebrating his three gold medals and one bronze medal won at the Paris Olympics.

(SP)PHILIPPINES-PASIG-FLOORBALL-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS-FINAL-PHILIPPINES VS THAILAND

(SP)PHILIPPINES-PASIG-FLOORBALL-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS-FINAL-PHILIPPINES VS THAILAND

(240526) -- PASIG CITY, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Thailand team pose with their silver medals after the 2024 Men's World Floorball Championships qualifications' final between the Philippines and Thailand in Pasig City, the Philippines, May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

(SP)PHILIPPINES-PASIG-FLOORBALL-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS-FINAL-PHILIPPINES VS THAILAND

(SP)PHILIPPINES-PASIG-FLOORBALL-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS-FINAL-PHILIPPINES VS THAILAND

(240526) -- PASIG CITY, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Philippine team pose with their gold medals after the 2024 Men's World Floorball Championships qualifications' final between the Philippines and Thailand in Pasig City, the Philippines, May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

(SP)PHILIPPINES-PASIG-FLOORBALL-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS-FINAL-PHILIPPINES VS THAILAND

(SP)PHILIPPINES-PASIG-FLOORBALL-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS-FINAL-PHILIPPINES VS THAILAND

(240526) -- PASIG CITY, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Thailand team pose with their silver medals after the 2024 Men's World Floorball Championships qualifications' final between the Philippines and Thailand in Pasig City, the Philippines, May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

(SP)PHILIPPINES-PASIG-FLOORBALL-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS-FINAL-PHILIPPINES VS THAILAND

(SP)PHILIPPINES-PASIG-FLOORBALL-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS-FINAL-PHILIPPINES VS THAILAND

(240526) -- PASIG CITY, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Philippine team pose with their gold medals after the 2024 Men's World Floorball Championships qualifications' final between the Philippines and Thailand in Pasig City, the Philippines, May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

(SP)CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-HULUN BUIR-14TH NATIONAL WINTER GAMES-FIGURE SKATING-MEN SINGLE (CN)

(SP)CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-HULUN BUIR-14TH NATIONAL WINTER GAMES-FIGURE SKATING-MEN SINGLE (CN)

(240226) -- HULUN BUIR, Feb. 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Jin Boyang of Beijing looks at his medals during the awarding ceremony after the men single free skaing of figure skating event at the China's 14th National Winter Games in Hulun Buir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Feb. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

Ethiopian runners win at Xiamen Marathon

STORY: Ethiopian runners win at Xiamen Marathon SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 7, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 7, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:55 LOCATION: XIAMEN, China CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the 2024 Xiamen Marathon STORYLINE: Ethiopian Asefa Boki Kebebe claimed the men's title, while his compatriot Bekelech Gudeta Borecha took the women's gold in the 2024 Xiamen Marathon on Sunday morning. Kebebe clocked a time of two hours, six minutes and 46 seconds to cross the finishing line first. Felix Kiptoo Kirwa from Kenya and Othmane El Goumri from Morocco took the silver and bronze medals in 2:06:52 and 2:07:18 respectively. The women's title went to Borecha who clocked 2:22:54, while Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi from Morocco finished second in 2:24:12. Zhang Deshun, from China, took the bronze in 2:26:53. As one of China's top marathons, the 2024 Xiamen Marathon has attracted 30,000 contestants. The Xiamen Marathon gained the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label in 2021, becoming the second Chinese marathon race to w

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2023

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2023

(231227) -- BEIJING, Dec. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2023: 10. Simone Biles (United States, gymnastics) After overcoming mental health challenges occurring during the Tokyo Olympics, Biles made a triumphant return in 2023 by winning her sixth all-around title at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. With her 34th medal at the Olympics and World Championships, the 26-year-old has surpassed Belarusian legend Vitaly Scherbo to become the new record holder with the most medals. This file photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows gold medalist Simone Biles of the United States celebrating during the awarding ceremony of Women's Floor Exercise Final of the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

TOP 10 CHINESE ATHLETES/TEAMS OF 2023

TOP 10 CHINESE ATHLETES/TEAMS OF 2023

(231226) -- BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2023 (Xinhua) -- As the sporting calendar draws to a close, Xinhua News Agency has selected the top 10 Chinese athletes/teams for 2023: 9. Qin Haiyang (male, swimming) Qin broke the world record in the men's 200m breaststroke and became the first swimmer to sweep 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke titles at a single World Championships in Fukuoka. He was named the Best Male Swimmer of the Year 2023 by World Aquatics. The 24-year-old also claimed the men's MVP award at the Hangzhou Asian Games after pocketing five gold medals. This file photo taken on July 24, 2023 shows Qin Haiyang of China celebrating after winning the men's 100m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

TOP 10 CHINESE ATHLETES/TEAMS OF 2023

TOP 10 CHINESE ATHLETES/TEAMS OF 2023

(231226) -- BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2023 (Xinhua) -- As the sporting calendar draws to a close, Xinhua News Agency has selected the top 10 Chinese athletes/teams for 2023: 7. Zhang Yufei (female, swimming) In 2023, Zhang claimed 23 gold, four silver and two bronze medals at the World Aquatics Championships, FISU World University Games, Asian Games and World Cup series. At the Fukuoka World Championships, she won her first world title in the women's 100m butterfly. The 25-year-old was named women's MVP at the Hangzhou Asian Games with a haul of six golds. This file photo taken on July 30, 2023 shows Zhang Yufei of China posing with her medals after the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

TOP 10 CHINESE ATHLETES/TEAMS OF 2023

TOP 10 CHINESE ATHLETES/TEAMS OF 2023

(231226) -- BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2023 (Xinhua) -- As the sporting calendar draws to a close, Xinhua News Agency has selected the top 10 Chinese athletes/teams for 2023: 2. Wang Chuqin (male, table tennis) At the Hangzhou Asian Games, Wang became the first-ever men's paddler to win four gold medals at a single Asiad. The 23-year-old also reclaimed the men's doubles title with Fan Zhendong for China and retained the mixed doubles crown with Sun Yingsha at the Durban worlds. This file photo taken on Sept. 26, 2023 shows Wang Chuqin of China celebrating during the men's team finals table tennis match between China and South Korea at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

(SP)CROATIA-ZAGREB-WATER POLO-CHALLENGER CUP WOMEN-GOLD MEDAL MATCH

(SP)CROATIA-ZAGREB-WATER POLO-CHALLENGER CUP WOMEN-GOLD MEDAL MATCH

(231126) -- ZAGREB, Nov. 26, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Players of Izmir Buyuksehir SK pose with their gold medals during the awarding ceremony after the gold medal water polo match between ZVK Crvena Zvezda and Izmir Buyuksehir SK at the LEN Challenger Cup Women in Zagreb, Croatia, on Nov. 26, 2023. (Photo by Josip Regovic/PIXSELL via Xinhua)

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(230927) -- YANGON, Sept. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of Myanmar's national dragon boat team attend a training session for the 19th Asian Games, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 26, 2023. TO GO WITH "Feature: Myanmar aims for medals, experience at Hangzhou Asian Games" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(230927) -- YANGON, Sept. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of Myanmar's national dragon boat team attend a training session for the 19th Asian Games, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 26, 2023. TO GO WITH "Feature: Myanmar aims for medals, experience at Hangzhou Asian Games" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(230927) -- YANGON, Sept. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of Myanmar's national dragon boat team attend a training session for the 19th Asian Games, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 26, 2023. TO GO WITH "Feature: Myanmar aims for medals, experience at Hangzhou Asian Games" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(230927) -- YANGON, Sept. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of Myanmar's national dragon boat team attend a training session for the 19th Asian Games, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 26, 2023. TO GO WITH "Feature: Myanmar aims for medals, experience at Hangzhou Asian Games" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(230927) -- YANGON, Sept. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of Myanmar's national dragon boat team attend a training session for the 19th Asian Games, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 26, 2023. TO GO WITH "Feature: Myanmar aims for medals, experience at Hangzhou Asian Games" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(230927) -- YANGON, Sept. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of Myanmar's national dragon boat team attend a training session for the 19th Asian Games, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 26, 2023. TO GO WITH "Feature: Myanmar aims for medals, experience at Hangzhou Asian Games" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(230927) -- YANGON, Sept. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of Myanmar's national dragon boat team attend a training session for the 19th Asian Games, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 26, 2023. TO GO WITH "Feature: Myanmar aims for medals, experience at Hangzhou Asian Games" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(SP) MYANMAR-YANGON-DRAGON BOAT-ASIAN GAMES-TRAINING

(230927) -- YANGON, Sept. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of Myanmar's national dragon boat team attend a training session for the 19th Asian Games, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 26, 2023. TO GO WITH "Feature: Myanmar aims for medals, experience at Hangzhou Asian Games" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

(SP)CHINA-HANGZHOU-ASIAN GAMES-TABLE TENNIS (CN)

(SP)CHINA-HANGZHOU-ASIAN GAMES-TABLE TENNIS (CN)

(230926) -- HANGZHOU, Sept. 26, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Coach Ma Lin of China shows medals after the awarding ceremony of the women's team table tennis match at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Asian Games: Table tennis

Asian Games: Table tennis

Japanese table tennis players (from L) Miwa Harimoto, Miyuu Kihara, Miyu Nagasaki, Miu Hirano and Hina Hayata pose with their silver medals in the women's team event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 26, 2023.

Asian Games: Rugby Sevens

Asian Games: Rugby Sevens

Members of Japan's women's rugby sevens team pose with their silver medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 26, 2023.

Run in memory of fallen Ukrainian heroes in Lviv

Run in memory of fallen Ukrainian heroes in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - AUGUST 26, 2023 - Medals are pictured during the I Honour Warriors, I Run for the Heroes of Ukraine nationwide patriotic run ahead of the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine fallen in the struggle for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine on August 29, Lviv, western Ukraine.

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(230827) -- BUDAPEST, Aug. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of team USA celebrate after winning two gold medals in 4x100 meters relay Men and Women final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(230827) -- BUDAPEST, Aug. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of team USA celebrate after winning two gold medals in 4x100 meters relay Men and Women final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(230827) -- BUDAPEST, Aug. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of team USA pose after winning two gold medals in 4x100 meters relay Men and Women final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(230827) -- BUDAPEST, Aug. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of team USA pose after winning two gold medals in 4x100 meters relay Men and Women final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(230827) -- BUDAPEST, Aug. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of team USA pose after winning two gold medals in 4x100 meters relay Men and Women final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(230827) -- BUDAPEST, Aug. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of team USA pose after winning two gold medals in 4x100 meters relay Men and Women final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(230827) -- BUDAPEST, Aug. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of team USA celebrate after winning two gold medals in 4x100 meters relay Men and Women final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(SP)HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ATHLETICS-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-DAY 8

(230827) -- BUDAPEST, Aug. 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Members of team USA pose after winning two gold medals in 4x100 meters relay Men and Women final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 26, 2023. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

UN honors fallen peacekeepers

STORY: UN honors fallen peacekeepers DATELINE: May 26, 2023 LENGTH: 00:05:20 LOCATION: UN Headquarters CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of UN Headquarters 2. various of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laying a wreath and mourning 3. various of Guterres walking up to the rostrum in UNGA Hall 4. various of delegates observing a minute of silence for fallen peacekeepers 5. various of Guterres awarding Dag Hammarskjold Medals to fallen peacekeepers 6. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General 7. various of UNGA Hall 8. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General 9. various of Guterres presenting 2022 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award to Captain Cecilia Erzuah 10. various of delegates observing a minute of silence for fallen peacekeepers STORYLINE: The United Nations held ceremonies at its headquarters in New York on Thursday, to honor the memory of the peacekeepers who have sacrificed their lives while serving under the UN flag. UN Secretary-General

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2022

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2022

(221226) -- BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2022 (Xinhua) -- File photo taken on June 24, 2022 shows Katie Ledecky of the United States reacts after the women's 800m freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Ledecky won the women's 800m freestyle at the FINA World Championships in Budapest, to take the fifth consecutive title in the event. In this tournament, the 25-year-old clinched four gold medals to take her world championships gold medal tally to 19. Ledecky also broke the women's short-course world record in the 1,500m and 800m freestyle at the FINA World Cup. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2022

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2022

(221226) -- BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2022 (Xinhua) -- File photo taken on Feb. 19, 2022 shows Irene Schouten of the Netherlands celebrates after the speed skating women's mass start final of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, capital of China. Dutch skater Schouten claimed gold medals in the women's 3,000m, 5,000m and mass start events at the Beijing Winter Olympics and also took a bronze in the team pursuit with her teammates. In March, Schouten won the Allround title at the World Speed Skating Championships in Hamar, Norway. (Xinhua/Wu Wei)

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2022

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2022

(221226) -- BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2022 (Xinhua) -- File photo taken on Feb. 8, 2022 shows Gu Ailing of China reacts during flower ceremony after women's freeski big air final at Big Air Shougang in Beijing, capital of China. Gu claimed gold medals in the women's big air and halfpipe and a silver in slopestyle at the Beijing Winter Olympics, becoming the first freestyle skier to win three medals in three different events at a single Winter Olympics. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)

Table tennis women's doubles world bronze medalists

Table tennis women's doubles world bronze medalists

TOKYO, Japan, Dec. 26 Kyodo - Japan's Hina Hayata(L) and Mima Ito smile after winning women's doubles bronze medals at the world table tennis championships in Dusseldorf, Germany on June 5, 2017.

Japan claims silver in equestrian eventing team jumping

Japan claims silver in equestrian eventing team jumping

INCHEON, South Korea - Japanese equestrians smile as they show off their silver medals in the equestrian eventing team jumping at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, on Sept. 26, 2014.

Skate Canada

Skate Canada

SAINT JOHN, Canada - Canada's Patrick Chan (C), winner of the men's competition at Skate Canada, Yuzuru Hanyu (L) and Nobunari Oda, both of Japan, who finished second and third, respectively, hold their medals at the award ceremony in Saint John, Canada, on Oct. 26, 2013.

Skate Canada

Skate Canada

SAINT JOHN, Canada - Russia's Julia Lipnitskaia (C), winner of the women's competition at Skate Canada, Japan's Akiko Suzuki (L) and Gracie Gold of the United States, who finished second and third, respectively, hold their medals at the award ceremony in Saint John, Canada, on Oct. 26, 2013.

Tokyo Marathon

Tokyo Marathon

TOKYO, Japan - Kenya's Michael Kipyego (R) and Japan's Arata Fujiwara show their medals at Tokyo Big Sight in the Japanese capital on Feb. 26, 2012, after coming first and second in the Tokyo Marathon.

Medalists in men's 100 backstroke at worlds

Medalists in men's 100 backstroke at worlds

SHANGHAI, China - Frenchman Jeremy Stravius (L), compatriot Camille Lacourt (C) and Japan's Ryosuke Irie show their gold and bronze medals in the men's 100 meters backstroke at the world swimming championships in Shanghai on July 26, 2011. Stravius and Lacourt shared the gold medal as they finished at the same time.

Lochte and Phelps in 200 freestyle

Lochte and Phelps in 200 freestyle

SHANGHAI, China - Americans Ryan Lochte (L) and Michael Phelps show their gold and silver medals for the men's 200 meters freestyle at the world swimming championships in Shanghai on July 26, 2011.