1911

Tsinghua College (Tsinghua Xuetang) was founded. The "Articles of Association of Tsinghua College" explicitly listed "Physical Education" as the tenth category of school subjects and "Gymnastics" as one of the general compulsory courses for students, held three times a week and bearing academic credits.

1912

Tsinghua Xuetang was renamed Tsinghua School, and the Department of Physical Education was established with A. Shoemaker as its director.

"Breathing Exercises" and "Compulsory Sports" were implemented.

Tsinghua initiated the "Triangular Sports Meet" (Tsinghua, Tongzhou Union, and Beijing Huiwen), which is the earliest recorded intercollegiate sports event in the Beijing area.

1913

Six Tsinghua students were selected for the Chinese track and field team to participate in the First Far Eastern Championship Games in Manila, Philippines, where Pan Wenbing won first place in the decathlon and individual total score.

1914

Ma Yuehan joined the faculty, beginning his 52-year career in physical education at Tsinghua University.

Tsinghua students won five championships at the Second National Games.

1915

The Tsinghua Boy Scouts was founded, becoming the first boy scout troop established in northern China during the Republic of China era.

A Tsinghua student won the high hurdles championship at the Second Far Eastern Championship Games.

1918

D.K. Brace was appointed Director of the Department of Physical Education.

1919

The West Gymnasium (Front Pavilion) was completed. "Compulsory Sports" were discontinued, and formal physical education classes were introduced, becoming compulsory for both higher and middle school students. Formulated and implemented the "Experimental Method for the Effectiveness of Physical Education."

Ma Yuehan went to Springfield College in the United States for further studies.

1920

Ma Yuehan was appointed Director of the Department of Physical Education.

1921

Tsinghua students won the basketball tournament at the Fifth Far Eastern Championship Games.

1923

The Department of Physical Education was renamed the Physical Education Group, with Ma Yuehan remaining as the director.

1924

Tsinghua students won the basketball tournament at the Third National Games.

1925

Ma Yuehan went to Springfield College in the U.S. to pursue a master's degree and published his master's thesis "The Transfer Value of Physical Education" in 1926.

1928

Ma Yuehan, Hao Gengsheng, and others founded the "Tsinghua Summer School of Physical Education," which is the earliest and most comprehensive physical education training program recorded in China.

1930

The University Council re-established the Department of Physical Education.

The "Five Universities Athletic Association" was established (comprising Tsinghua, Normal University, Peking University, Yenching, and Fu Jen), with Ma Yuehan serving as president.

1931

Mei Yiqi was appointed President of Tsinghua University, emphasizing the role of physical education in cultivating students' sound personalities.

1936

Ma Yuehan served as the "Head Coach of the Chinese Track and Field Team," leading the team to participate in the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany.

1938

Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Nankai University jointly formed the "National Southwestern Associated University" (in Kunming); their physical education departments merged accordingly, with Ma Yuehan serving as the director.

1939

Southwestern Associated University, Yunnan University, and the Central Aviation Officer School formed the "Three-School Athletic Association," with Ma Yuehan as president, and held the first joint sports competition.

1940

The Kunming Physical Education Academic Research Association was established, with Ma Yuehan serving as its president.

1946

Tsinghua University demobilized and returned to Tsinghua Yuan, and the Department of Physical Education was restored.

1952

Following the restructuring of colleges and departments, the Department of Physical Education was renamed the Physical Education Teaching and Research Group, with Ma Yuehan serving as the director.

Around this period, Ma Yuehan began delivering the "First Physical Education Class" to incoming Tsinghua freshmen.

1953

The first university-wide track and field sports meet since the founding of the PRC was held.

The "Labor and National Defense" system began to be implemented.

1954

President Jiang Nanxiang proposed the policy of "elevating on the basis of popularization, and popularizing under the guidance of elevation."

The Tsinghua University Sports Representative Team was established.

1957

President Jiang Nanxiang issued for the first time the call to "strive to work healthily for the motherland for at least fifty years."

1958

The Tsinghua University Militia Division was established, and national defense sports were comprehensively launched at Tsinghua.

The Tsinghua University National Defense Sports Association was established, with Ai Zhisheng, Deputy Secretary of the Tsinghua Party Committee, concurrently serving as the director.

1964

The Tsinghua University Sports Committee was established.

The university held a conference to celebrate Ma Yuehan's 50 years of service at Tsinghua. President Jiang Nanxiang formally put forward the requirement for Tsinghua students to "strive to work healthily for the motherland for at least fifty years."

1966

Ma Yuehan passed away in Beijing.

The Physical Education Teaching and Research Group came under the unified leadership of the university leader in charge of sports, with teaching managed by the Academic Affairs Office.

1971

The U.S. Table Tennis Delegation visited the university and played friendly matches, becoming the first American non-governmental group to visit China since the founding of the PRC.

1972

Tsinghua University took the lead in implementing the "Physical Training Standards," which were piloted nationwide the following year.

1976

Physical education teaching order was restored, and Xia Xiang served as the Director of the Physical Education Teaching and Research Group.

1978

The undergraduate educational system was changed from six years to five years, and physical education courses were adjusted to three years.

1979

The Physical Education Teaching and Research Group was renamed the Physical Education Teaching and Research Division, with Xia Xiang serving as the director.

1980

Physical education courses were extended from three years to four years.

Awarded the title of "Advanced Collective in Sports Work in Beijing."

1984

The university student track and field sports meet was named after Mr. Ma Yuehan, and the "Ma Yuehan Track and Field Challenge Cup" was established.

1986

Liu Huaxuan served as the Party Branch Secretary of the Physical Education Teaching and Research Division and Acting Director of the Division.

A statue of Ma Yuehan was unveiled at the West Playground.

The "Ma Yuehan Sports Talent Class" was established.

1987

Wang Yi served as the Party Branch Secretary of the Physical Education Teaching and Research Division.

The Sports Activity Center (the west grandstand of the East Playground Track and Field Stadium) was completed.

1988

Approved by the State Education Commission and the State Physical Culture and Sports Commission, the university began to "pilot high-level sports teams" and created a major in sports science and technology.

1989

Liu Ruyi served as the Party Branch Secretary of the Physical Education Teaching and Research Division.

1990

Cao Baoyuan served as the Director of the Physical Education Teaching and Research Division.

1992

Zheng Xiuyuan served as the Party Branch Secretary of the Physical Education Teaching and Research Division.

1993

Awarded the title of "National Advanced Unit in Mass Sports."

1994

The Physical Education Teaching and Research Division was renamed the Department of Physical Education Teaching and Research. Chen Weiqiang served as the Director, and Zhang Wei as the Party Branch Secretary.

The Tsinghua University Sports and Health Sciences Research Center was established.

1995

Began to explore the "Integration of Sports and Education" model for training high-level athletes.

Starting that same year, Tsinghua University consecutively won the championship at the Beijing College Track and Field Meet, setting a record of "14 consecutive championships," and achieved "six consecutive championships" at the National University Track and Field Championships.

1996

Zhang Rongguo served as the Party Branch Secretary of the Department of Physical Education Teaching and Research.

1997

Wang Peiyong served as the Director of the Department of Physical Education Teaching and Research.

Hosted the 5th National University Track and Field Championships.

Hosted the first Ma Yuehan University Sports Science Symposium.

Held the first Tsinghua University Freshman Barefoot Sports Meet.

1998

Approved as a master's degree program in "Physical Education and Sports Training".

The "Ma Yuehan Cup" sports meet incorporated 24 athletic events and 3 exhibition events, known as the "Grand Ma Cup".

1999

Zhang Bing served as the Party Branch Secretary of the Department of Physical Education Teaching and Research.

The physical education curriculum implemented the "4+3+1" teaching model.

2000

Chen Weiqiang served as the Director of the Department of Physical Education Teaching and Research.

2001

Chen Xi, Executive Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, proposed the physical education philosophy of "Putting education first, paying equal attention to physique and personality".

The Comprehensive Gymnasium and the Natatorium were completed and put into use, hosting the diving and basketball competitions of the "Summer Universiade".

2002

Began serving as the chair unit of the Track and Field Branch of the Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC), and was re-elected twice in 2012 and 2022.

Established the "Key Research Base for Sports Social Science" of the General Administration of Sport of China.

2003

Approved as master's degree programs in "Kinesiology" and "Sports Humanities and Sociology", and a doctoral degree program in the sub-discipline of "Physical Education and Sports Training".

2004

Qiu Jun served as the Party Branch Secretary of the Department of Physical Education Teaching and Research.

"University Physical Education" was recognized as a National Elite Course.

Founded the "Tsinghua High-Level Sports Forum".

2005

Tsinghua University students won 2 gold medals at the 23rd Summer Universiade and 4 gold medals at the 10th National Games.

2006

The Party Branch of the Department of Physical Education Teaching and Research was restructured into the General Party Branch, and Qiu Jun served as the Secretary.

2008

The Department of Physical Education Teaching and Research was renamed the Department of Physical Education, restoring its original name from when the university was founded. Chen Weiqiang served as the Director of the Department, and Qiu Jun as the General Party Branch Secretary.

Comprehensively participated in the Beijing Olympic Games, with 5 enrolled students competing in the games; 26 faculty members served as referees, coaches, and service staff.

The Comprehensive Gymnasium and the Natatorium served as independent training venues for the Olympic Games.

2009

Began implementing the new "Sunshine Long-distance Running" extracurricular exercise system.

Approved as a postdoctoral research station for "Sports Science".

Awarded the title of "National Advanced Unit in Mass Sports."

Hosted the "Asian Anthropology Forum".

The Shooting Range was completed.

Tsinghua University students won 1 gold medal at the 11th National Games.

2010

The physical education curriculum implemented the "4+2+2" teaching model.

Approved as a first-level discipline doctoral degree program in "Sports Science".

The Zijing Air Dome was completed.

2011

Liu Bo served as the General Party Branch Secretary of the Department of Physical Education.

The Tsinghua University Sports Honor Room was officially inaugurated in the West Gymnasium.

Began implementing physical fitness tests for independent enrollment admissions.

Hosted the International Sports Science Paper Conference and the 22nd Pan-Asian Sports Science Conference.

The mass gymnastics performance for the university's centennial celebration was a success.

2012

Liu Bo served as the Director of the Department of Physical Education, and Ma Xindong as the General Party Branch Secretary.

Held the celebration conference for the 100th anniversary of the Department of Physical Education.

Held a series of commemorative events for the 130th anniversary of Ma Yuehan's birth.

A Tsinghua University student won the first gold medal at the London Olympic Games.

2013

Held a thematic sub-session of the series of seminars commemorating the 100th anniversary of Jiang Nanxiang's birth—"Strive to Work Healthily for the Motherland for Fifty Years".

Tsinghua University students won a total of 2 gold medals at the 12th National Games.

2014

Tsinghua students spontaneously chanted the slogan "No Sports, No Tsinghua".

Hosted the 14th National University Track and Field Championships.

Restored the "First Physical Education Class" for freshmen.

The first MOOC "Football and Science" was launched on the "XuetangX" platform.

Held commemorative events for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the sports representative teams.

Tsinghua University students and alumni won 6 gold medals at the 17th Asian Games.

2015

Held the first Tsinghua University Campus Marathon.

Launched the personnel system reform of the Department of Physical Education.

2016

The Tsinghua Men's Basketball Team won the national championship of the Chinese University Basketball Association (CUBA) for the first time.

Hosted the First World Elite University Football Invitational Tournament.

Initiated the "Freshman Collective Exercise" model.

2017

Held the "Double 60" series of events (the 60th "Ma Yuehan Cup" and the 60th anniversary of the proposal "Strive to Work Healthily for the Motherland for Fifty Years").

Restored the old school rule of "No graduation without swimming proficiency" and restored the tradition of not scheduling classes in the fifth period of the afternoon for freshmen.

Conducted the "International Undergraduate Freshman Orientation Camp" for the first time.

Offered a minor degree in physical education for undergraduates for the first time.

Tsinghua University students won 6 gold medals at the 13th National Games.

2018

Tsinghua University signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the General Administration of Sport of China.

Began recruiting part-time master's students majoring in Winter Olympic Games Management.

Won the Second Prize of the National Teaching Achievement Award and the First Prize of the National College Young Teachers Teaching Competition.

The Tsinghua Women's Basketball Team won the championship in the FISU University 3x3 Basketball World Cup.

2019

Resumed hosting the "Tsinghua High-Level Sports Forum", held biennially.

Founded the "Tsinghua Sports Nine-Person Talk" series of academic lectures.

Established the Institute for Sports Development, Tsinghua University.

2020

Due to the pandemic, physical education classes in the spring semester were fully implemented online, and "Cloud Sports Events" were held during the university's anniversary celebration.

2021

General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Tsinghua University, visited the Honor Room in the West Gymnasium, and fully affirmed Tsinghua's glorious sporting tradition.

Awarded the title of "National Advanced Unit in Mass Sports."

Tsinghua University students won 2 gold medals, including the first gold of the games, at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and won 5 gold medals at the 14th National Games.

2022

Held the celebration conference for the 110th anniversary of the Department of Physical Education.

Held a series of commemorative events for the 140th anniversary of Ma Yuehan's birth.

The Party Committee of the Department of Physical Education was established, with Ma Xindong serving as the Party Secretary.

Both the men's and women's basketball teams won the national championship of the Chinese University Basketball Association (CUBA).

2023

The North Gymnasium (including the Ice Sports Center) was completed and put into use.

Released the "Tsinghua University Physical Education Implementation Plan".

Tsinghua University students won 4 gold medals at the 31st FISU World University Games Summer.

Won first place in the total team score of Group A at the 1st Sports Meet of Capital Higher Education Institutions.

2024

The track and field team achieved "15 consecutive championships" at the Capital College Track and Field Meet.

3 enrolled students and 1 alumnus participated in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and won 1 bronze medal.

Held a series of events for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the sports representative teams.

2025

Restored the tradition of broadcasting physical exercise music in the afternoon.

The "Tsinghua High-Level Sports Forum" was renamed "Tsinghua Ma Yuehan Sports Forum", continuing to be held biennially.

Completed the self-assessment of the degree authorization points of the Department of Physical Education.

72 Tsinghua University students participated in the 15th National Games, winning 7 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze medals.

Won the "National Advanced Unit in Mass Sports" award again.

2026

Liu Bo served as the Party Secretary of the Department of Physical Education, and Hu Kai as the Director.

Tsinghua University students participated in the 2026 Milan Winter Olympic Games, winning 1 gold and 1 bronze medal.