As one of the founding schools of the Youth Gobi Challenge, Tsinghua International School once again assembled its warriors this year. Twenty-two Gobi heroes formed three teams — Tsinghua Warriors, Tsinghua Zijing, and Tsinghua Xingjian — and set off for the vast desert. Three days and two nights, accompanied by wind and sand, they never stopped moving. Guided throughout by coaches Ms. Dou Yanfei and Mr. Fan Zheng, who provided unwavering support and careful instruction, all team members held fast to the belief: "Set out together, arrive together." Upholding the Tsinghua motto "Self-Discipline and Social Commitment" and embodying the spirit of "No Sports, No Tsinghua," they achieved remarkable results on the Gobi battlefield and returned home with glory.
Team Honors: Unity Brings Glory
Individual brilliance shines, but collective strength is even more precious. In this Youth Gobi Challenge, all Tsinghua International School team members walked side by side, supported one another, never gave up on anyone, and demonstrated immense team cohesion and sportsmanship. They won three major team awards, embodying the responsibility and commitment of Tsinghua's young generation:
The Shackleton Award
The Heritage Award
The Team Style Award
Throughout the event, our students fought with determination and gave it their all, earning a total of 62 gold medals and 3 silver medals. Each honor stands as a testament to the united efforts of every team member and teacher. From start to finish, from dawn to dusk, the players encouraged each other and moved forward together, truly engraving the words "Set out together, arrive together" into every step of their Gobi journey.
Youthful Spirit Crowned in the Gobi
The Gobi tempers resolve, and every step rings with determination. The young warriors of Tsinghua International School demonstrated outstanding ability and unwavering will, achieving impressive rankings across various categories over the three-day race, writing their own legendary chapter on the Gobi.
High School Overall Rankings
Boys' Category
Liu Hanzhang
Overall Champion in High School Boys' Division;
1st place in Day 1 Challenge
Ren Yizhi
Overall 3rd place in High School Boys' Division;
3rd place in Day 2 Challenge;
2nd place in Day 3 Challenge
Qiu Xuanhao
Overall 4th place in High School Boys' Division
Li Ruichen
1st place in Day 2 Challenge,
High School Boys' Division
Girls' Category
Xu Xiyan
Overall 2nd place in High School Girls' Division;
1st place in Day 1 Challenge;
3rd place in Day 2 Challenge
Sun Xitong
Overall 3rd place in High School Girls' Division;
3rd place in Day 1 Challenge
Elementary School
Wang Youyang
Overall Champion in Elementary School Division;
1st place in Day 2 Challenge;
2nd place in Day 3 Challenge
During this year's Youth Gobi Challenge, Bo Fu from THIS not only served as a student coach for the team but also joined the event organizing committee as Intern 001 of the "Gravel Project." From a participant who consecutively conquered the Gobi to a behind-the-scenes guardian who preserves and passes on its spirit, she continues the Gobi legacy through her own actions, ensuring that Tsinghua International School's love for the Gobi is passed down from generation to generation.
Student Testimonials
Noel 6W
I never thought I could win the Gobi Challenge, but crossing the finish line in first place proved me wrong. The gobi is a desert, sand and silence stretch into the horizon. On the first day, I had no idea what it was and what I would face. Standing on the starting line, I was nervous. But I still ran and I was the first to come back! It is pretty exciting for me, however the committee said I had a 30 min penalty because I rested 13 seconds less at the rest point. I was sad and angry, but I couldn’t change it. If you do it; you accept the consequences. On the second day, I tried my best, trying to recover the time. Running there is hard work, but I still ran, faster than my normal speed. I needed to reach beyond my limits. After a tiring run, I did it, I recovered 23 minutes. On the last day, I didn’t have to run as fast. It was much easier for me. Even when I feel grumpy or tired, like I did in the dry Gobi Desert, I must keep going and never give up. Go Spartans!
Lucas 7S
The most unforgettable part of this Gobi trip was how everyone encouraged each other even when we were exhausted. The weather was very hot, and my feet hurt a lot near the end of the journey. However, whenever I wanted to give up, I saw my classmates still trying hard, which motivated me to keep going as well. Although the trip was challenging, finishing it left me feeling proud and deeply moved. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance and teamwork.
Amber 9W
Last year, I signed up for the Youth Gobi Challenge on a whim, purely for the experience. This year, faced with new responsibilities and expectations, I began to resent the very act of running. Each Wednesday and Sunday's training session felt like a personal katabasis. I no longer felt the exhilaration coursing through my veins. A lack of training meant a lack of improvement, so naturally, I became one of the slowest on the team. Worry and turmoil ate away at me in the few months leading up to the May Holiday. After the Yunnan China trip concluded, I decided to let go of all expectations. Completely shook off all thoughts regarding pacing and leaderboards on my first day there. I have no shot, so I might as well have fun, right? I can confidently say that this year, I had more fun than ever traipsing the sands. What were barbed bushes obstructing my path last year have become onlookers to each steady step. The babbling brooks I used to navigate carefully? I waded through them all. And in those moments, it truly, without a doubt, felt as though the desert had cast its gaze upon me.
Jason 9P
I’ve gained so much from these three days in the Gobi Desert. Before going there, I always felt a lot of pressure in my school life and often complained about how bad my state was. But after experiencing the desert, I realized what real discomfort feels like. Every day, toward the latter half of our run, I would suffer from oxygen shortage and heatstroke, leaving me feeling dizzy. This experience made me understand that my daily life at school is actually very relaxed and comfortable. Besides, the accommodation conditions there were far from ideal. We slept on beds laid directly on the ground, and the temperature difference between day and night was huge. Still, the scenery there was incredibly beautiful. At night, the moon looked extraordinarily large — the biggest I have ever seen. The sky was always a clear bright blue, nothing like the sky in Beijing.
Helen 9P
Running 70 kilometers in the Gobi in three days is really unforgettable. The weather was hot and my legs felt tired all the way. I wanted to give up many times. Luckily, my friends encouraged me and we kept moving together. Running in the wide Gobi was hard but healing. This trip taught me to keep going and cherish teamwork. It’s a special experience that lets me challenge and improve myself.
Mason 12P
What impressed me most during this Gobi journey was the time we spent together in the camp tents. Ten people in one tent, each doing their own thing — it was quite lively. Sometimes we played games together, sometimes we joked around, and at other times, those preparing for AP exams would work on physics problems together. These activities themselves were nothing special, but being in the desert — and the very fact that the Gobi trip brought us together — made these moments feel extraordinarily unique.
Three days on the Gobi were both a trial and growth, but most of all, a spiritual inheritance. Thank you to coaches Mr. Fan and Ms. Dou for your wholehearted companionship, careful guardianship, and professional guidance. Thank you to the 22 warriors for giving your all and standing by each other. We measured the desert with our steps, interpreted our original aspirations with our passion, and left the Tsinghua motto "Self-Discipline and Social Commitment" and the conviction "No Sports, No Tsinghua" on every inch of the Gobi land.
The Gobi is not an end, but a brand new beginning for our young warriors. May every Tsinghua warrior returning from the Gobi carry this resilience and love forward, on the racetrack of life, never stopping, walking toward the sun, and continuing to write chapters of glory of your own.
