Road to the Podium

Zhang was born in Qianzhangying village of Shenqiu county in Henan. At around the age of 12, his father, hoping to encourage him to lose weight, enrolled him in the county rowing team.

However, instead of shedding pounds, Zhang's weight ballooned to 120kg and, within two years, a growth spurt saw him rise to a height of 1.95 meters.

The rowing team's coach then suggested he try boxing instead. Zhang had no idea what boxing was at the time, only knowing that it involved learning to fight. His father thought learning self-defense would be useful, so, Zhang's journey with boxing began.

"At first, I didn't like it at all. Despite my large size, I lacked technique and power, often getting beaten by smaller opponents," Zhang recalls.

However, after two years of disciplined training, Zhang entered the national championship preliminaries and clinched first place at his debut, which boosted his confidence.

"In the boxing ring, it's a small space with just two people and two outcomes: either you strike or get struck. So, you decide which role to take. Choosing to attack and landing a punch can intimidate your opponent," Zhang explained.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he secured the silver medal, was a pivotal moment for Zhang, and marked China's best performance in the heavyweight category above 91kg.

"I didn't expect to win silver, because heavyweight Chinese boxers weren't highly regarded. Just participating in the Olympics in my weight class was fulfilling enough. My approach in each match was to take it step by step," Zhang said.

"I had actually considered switching to professional boxing during that time, but after weighing up all the factors, I ultimately decided to make one more attempt at the 2012 London Olympics. Regardless of the outcome, I planned to close the door on my amateur career," he recalled.

During his preparations for the London Games, Zhang trained in the US and worked closely with American coaches.

However, Zhang lost to eventual champion, Britain's Anthony Joshua in the quarterfinals.

On Sept 10, 2013, at the 12th National Games in Liaoning province, Zhang clinched his third gold medal in the men's heavyweight (+91kg) category.

After the match, he ceremoniously removed his amateur boxing vest, folded it neatly on the canvas of the ring, knelt down, and kissed it passionately, marking the end of his 15-year amateur career.