"In the men's hoop competition at the Tokyo Olympics, why make a twisting motion when the cross is supported?" Facing the Olympic champion in front of me, I couldn't help but ask this question as soon as I came up.
Liu Yang said with some embarrassment: "At that time, I did this action to express the confident attitude of Chinese gymnasts. ”
"Domineering" crooked head kill. Courtesy of respondents
In the gymnastics men's hoop final at this year's Tokyo Olympic Games, Liu Yang won the championship with 15.500 points, which was also the first gold that the Chinese gymnastics team won at the Olympic Games.
After winning the championship, Liu Yang could not suppress the tears of excitement. "My brain was blank, I didn't fall asleep until four in the morning, I longed for this championship for too long, I was afraid to wake up and find it a dream."
This is the second time that the Chinese team has won the championship in the ring event after a gap of 13 years, and it is also the second time that the Chinese gymnastics team has won the championship of competitive gymnastics after 9 years!
The Chinese men's ring project has always had a deep championship background. The "prince of gymnastics" Li Ning won the gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games from the ring project; at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Chen Yibing also won the gold medal in the ring; Liu Yang successfully crowned the "Ring King" at the Tokyo Olympics after a long and boring training and countless battles with injuries.
Liu Yang won the Men's Ring Championship in Competitive Gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics. Courtesy of respondents
Looking back at Liu Yang's gymnastics career: he began practicing gymnastics at the age of 5, entered the Bayi Engineering Team at the age of 10, and was selected into the Chinese Gymnastics First Team at the age of 18. "Along the way, I am most grateful to the three coaches I have met in my sports career."
"When I was 5 years old, I met enlightenment coach Kong Fanqi for the first time. The coach let me go up the bar, and as soon as I went up, I was able to hold on steadily. At that time, Coach Kong saw that I was so energetic, he said to stay and 'play', and just like that, I began the road of gymnastics. ”
In 2004, the Eight-One Engineering Team came to Anshan to select athletes and selected Liu Yang at a glance. Here, Liu Yang met the person who took him on the path of his career, Coach Sun Wanli. "I'll never forget a phrase he said to me, 'Don't steam steamed buns and fight for breath', it was he who let me know how a professional athlete should face doubts and difficulties."
In 2012, Liu Yang was selected for the Chinese gymnastics team under coach Jin Weiguo, who led him to the road of Olympic champion. Director Jin has always had strict requirements for Liu Yang in training, and the details and expression of each action must be perfect.
Coach Liu Yang and Jin Weiguo. Courtesy of respondents
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Chinese gymnastics team ended with 0 gold in a Waterloo style. Until then, gymnastics had been seen as China's strength. After the game, many people believed that Chinese gymnasts lacked absolute competitiveness in this traditional Chinese advantage event.
During this period, Liu Yang experienced a low point in his sports career. The Olympic Games are held once every four years, and for athletes, if they can participate in this time, they don't know if they can participate in the next time. "After flying back to Beijing from Rio, I was reluctant to walk out of the airport door, and I felt that I had failed to live up to everyone's expectations. At that time, I was very mentally broken, and I felt that I had lost the ability to realize my dream of olympic champions. ”
After the game, his brother Chen Yibing, family and friends always encouraged Liu Yang, believing that he had the strength to win the championship, and what was missing was only the psychological state of self-confidence.
"Everyone cares about me and I feel like I have to get back up as soon as possible. For the next five years, I treated every training session as a competition and gave my all. ”
Liu Yang at the training ground. Courtesy of respondents
Competitive sports are inherently brutal, and repeated injuries can put a lot of pressure on athletes.
In the selection test a month before the Tokyo Olympics, Liu Yang accidentally sprained his waist during training and lay in bed for two or three days, unable to move in pain.
"The ring project relies on the strength of the athlete's body, and in a state of complete immobility, it is easy for people to question their own ability." During this period of waist injury, Liu Yang repeatedly built up self-confidence.
Before going to the Tokyo Olympics, Liu Yang had been limping. Even so, he didn't want to back down, not for a moment.
He told the scene of the recording of the "Youth Talk" program, "In fact, this injury is much more serious than participating in the last Olympic Games, and it is necessary to have a needle closed before the competition. I've been holding this breath in my heart, the gold medal I lost at the Rio Olympics, I must take it back!"
In order to win back this gold medal, Liu Yang has not returned home for five years, even if he is injured, he must play to the most perfect!
In fact, before the program was recorded, I always had a question in my heart, can he become an Olympic champion, more rely on talent or hard work?
After the recording, I thought I had found the answer myself. Liu Yang is naturally an athlete with potential, but behind the honor is the days and nights of persistence, tears and clenched teeth; it is the willpower to never give up even if it encounters great difficulties and tired training.
I can't help but sigh, if you can't drill the tip of the horn of every action, how can you stand firmly at the tip of the pyramid of the Olympic trophy?
"The hardships we suffer now are all to lay the foundation for the future." Believe in yourself and don't give up. Liu Yang encouraged his brothers and sisters in this way.
Talking about the future, Liu Yang said firmly, "I hope to win the championship of the men's gymnastics team at the Paris Olympic Games, and I can stand up when the motherland needs me." ”
The countdown to the Beijing Winter Olympics has entered. Liu Yang said his careful wish: "I pay more attention to skiing aerial skills, and hope to participate in the activities and publicity of the Winter Olympics and contribute to the successful holding of the Winter Olympics." ”