Female canoe & kayak athlete Zhong Hongyan was born on November 29, 1978 in Tongxiang, Zhejiang Province. She entered Tongxiang Youth Sports School in 1990, Zhejiang Provincial Sports School in August 1993, Zhejiang provincial sports team in 1995, and the national training team in November 1997.

She won the championship in women’s kayak double 500m at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.