Three champions of Paris Olympic Games shared their stories of success with students at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, encouraging them to "dream big".

Tennis player Zheng Qinwen, diver Chang Yani and canoe player Sun Mengya, all gold medalists, returned to their alma mater on Friday.

Zheng, the first Asian athlete to win a gold medal in women's singles tennis in 128 years of Olympic history, told the students winning not only brought glory but also made her inner self stronger and more confident.

"I also want to say to young friends on this occasion, dare to dream and dream big. Only by dreaming can you have a goal to achieve. But don't forget, along this road, there may be hardships, difficulties, doubts, hesitations, tears and failures, but all failures are for that moment of success," she said.

"You must enjoy this process. When you stand at the top of the world and look back, you will find that all the sacrifices you made in the past were truly worth it."