Adapting to life in the fast lane

It was a fitting climax to an Asiad debut that saw Chen sweep the women's 100m, the women's 4x100, and the mixed relay, while securing a hard-fought silver in the 200m.

"I managed to race in four event finals at my very first Asian Games," the teenager reflected. "Standing on the Asian Games stage was already great, but being able to compete in so many finals, I feel like I've given myself a sense of validation."

Chen's rise to the top of Asian athletics has been nothing short of meteoric. In the women's 100m final, she crossed the finish line in a blistering 11.06 seconds, shattering both the Asian Games record and the Asian U20 record.

"Since it was all uncharted territory, there was definitely a bit of anxiety and fear, but, after finishing the 100m, I realized I was actually pretty good!" Chen laughed.

The 200m event, however, exposed a different side of her development. Chen took silver behind Singapore's Shanti Pereira in 22.93 seconds. Rather than making excuses about the rain or the grueling schedule, the teenager displayed remarkable maturity.

"Every athlete has to face the same conditions. I can't blame my mistakes on external factors," she noted, calling Pereira a rival worth respecting. "I planned to stay with her through the bend and then look for a chance to pass on the straight, but I'd used up too much energy in the first half."

Her major breakthrough on the senior stage came at China's National Games in 2025, when she swept the sprint titles. Yet, despite her undeniable talent, Chen admits she is still processing her own rapid ascent.

"Before the National Games, I felt like I was just very small and insignificant. Then at the National Games, I unexpectedly won two titles, and I was like, 'wow, I'm actually amazing!' I still remember what I said back then," she recalled. "I said: 'What just happened? I just came back with National Games titles?'

"I was just in a state of total disbelief, it felt surreal."