On July 30, 1932, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA, was crowded and bustling.
Amid the enthusiastic cheers, delegations from various countries entered the scene one after another.
However, when the eighth delegation appeared, everyone was stunned.
This team, which is said to represent 400 million Chinese, only 6 people and 1 national flag, seems so out of place in the vast team.
Even so, the man in the lead waved the national flag and strode forward, each step straight and solemn.
He is the first person in the Chinese Olympic Games, Liu Changchun.
That day, It was China's first appearance at the Olympic Games.
There was no enthusiastic cheering, no grand lineup, and even the 5 members of the "Six-Man Regiment" were temporarily pulled together.
Only Liu Changchun is the only athlete among the 6.
Why did yangyang only send Liu Changchun to participate in the Olympic Games? What kind of legendary and tortuous experience did he have behind his selection as an Olympic athlete?
All of this has to start from the beginning.
In Liu Changchun's memory, his childhood entertainment projects are very rich.
In the spring, the mountains are full of wild flowers, in the summer go swimming in the sea, in the autumn they pick fruits in the mountains, and in the winter they play "ice skates" on the ice.
All this can be done thanks to the unique geographical advantages of the Liu family:
Facing the sea, surrounded by mountains on three sides. Run down the dirt slope in front of your house, and there are good scenery on both sides.
Coincidentally, this hillside, according to the principles of modern kinematics, is just right for sprinting.
Perhaps it was predestined by Providence, Liu Changchun trained a pair of "Scud legs" from a young age.
Neighbors also often lament:
"That kid from the Liu family, he runs faster than a rabbit!"
In 1919, at the age of 10, Liu Changchun attended elementary school.
At that time, there was a Japanese school next to the school, and there were often a few high-toed "school bullies" running out to bully the Chinese children on the other side.
Liu Changchun could not swallow this breath, he was tall, he went to teach those school bullies one by one, and gave his classmates a blow.
Soon, Liu Changchun's "fame" spread throughout the opposite school.
One day Liu Changchun came home and met a Japanese inspector on the road, and the other party did not say a word and slapped him fiercely.
This slap can make Liu Changchun cry, he held a stomach grievance, went back to tell the teacher, hope that someone will stand up for himself.
But at that time, the Japanese had warlords behind them, who dared to provoke them?
The teacher could only sigh helplessly and wipe away tears for Xiao Changchun:
"Child, don't cry, when you grow up, you will fight for our Chinese!"
Fight for Chinese!
Xiao Changchun clenched his teeth and engraved these words deeply into his heart.
In 1927, Liu Changchun returned to his hometown of Dalian, and by chance, he was noticed by the football team of Northeastern University.
After seeing Liu Changchun running, they were extremely surprised to find that Liu Changchun was fast, had good explosive power, and was a good seedling of sports.
At that time, Zhang Xueliang, the president of Northeastern University, attached great importance to sports, and several football players discussed it and warmly invited Liu Changchun to come to Northeastern University.
Liu Changchun was very happy, and he told his family about it.
Unexpectedly, my father was not happy when he heard it:
What is the use of reading? I can't make any money!
But Liu Changchun did not want to miss this opportunity, at that time Northeastern University was a famous school in China, the scale was larger than Peking University, Liu Changchun believed that this place would become his new starting point.
Despite his family's objections, he entered the Physical Education Department of Northeastern University.
It turns out that Liu Changchun's choice was right.
Soon, he made a splash on the track of the North China Games.
In the 100m, 200m and 400m sprint races, he not only won three championships, but also broke the national record in the 100m with a time of 10.08 seconds!
Soon, Liu Changchun was noticed by Zhang Xueliang.
In October 1929, the Hanqing Stadium in Shenyang was full of people and flags were flying.
On this day, Zhang Xueliang, president of Northeastern University, wanted to hold an athletics competition between China, Japan and Germany here.
Participating in the competition were the German team that had finished runners-up in the Olympic Games, the strong Japanese team, and Liu Changchun, a 20-year-old student of Northeastern University.
With the sound of the starting gun, the athletes on the track flew like off-string bows and arrows to the finish line.
50 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters... Whether it is the rematch or the final, Liu Changchun has followed the pace of Germany and thrown out the Japanese team.
The far leading results made President Zhang overjoyed:
Finally, someone can break the rumors of the sick man of East Asia and earn China a face!
In order to cultivate Liu Changchun well, Zhang Xueliang spent 8800 oceans a month to train him.
The training quickly came to an effect, and at the 4th National Games in Hangzhou, Liu Changchun lived up to expectations and won the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters championships.
Because of his excellent performance, a road in Hangzhou was also named "Changchun Road".
However, Liu Changchun's normal training life was soon broken by Japanese artillery fire.
In 1931, the "918" incident broke out, the three eastern provinces quickly fell, and Northeastern University was forced to suspend classes.
The students were dismissed one after another, and Liu Changchun had no choice but to return to Dalian.
And a conspiracy is also approaching him unconsciously.
One day, liu Changchun's home came to several strange people.
They claimed to be representatives of Manchukuo and invited Liu Changchun to the 10th Global Olympic Games.
But how could Liu Changchun not know that the so-called "Manchukuo" was actually a puppet of the Japanese regime?
He stood up and sternly refused the invitations of several people.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, one of the leading officers wearing glasses suddenly pulled his hand.
Liu Changchun did not react yet, the white light flashed in front of his eyes, and the camera clicked, and the picture of the two "shaking hands" was taken.
In May 1932, the puppet Manchukuo newspaper published the news that the new country had sent athletes to participate in the Olympic Games.
This athlete is Liu Changchun.
Seeing the news, Liu Changchun's teeth clenched:
How did he become a representative of puppet Manchukuo, who was trained by Principal Zhang?
He quickly issued statements in the Ta Kung Pao and Sports Weekly:
"The conscience of Gou Yu is still there, and the blood is still flowing!" How can you commit treason! Narcissus Cow! ”
The iron bones are solemn, and people are awe-inspiring.
However, a statement alone is not enough.
Since the puppet manchukuo published the photos, there will certainly be people with ulterior motives who will make a big fuss.
How can we take a stand and not let the villain succeed?
Only by personally representing the country can we stand on the track of the Olympic Games.
Thinking of this, Liu Changchun ran around, asking for help from the Republic of China government, hoping to get assistance.
However, at that time, the country was worried about internal and external troubles, and the government really could not come up with money to support him in his expedition for the country.
What if there is not enough money to represent puppet Manchukuo?
At the critical moment, Liu Changchun thought of Zhang Xueliang.
After telling the truth about the situation, Zhang Xueliang immediately donated 8,000 silver dollars to Liu Changchun, and worked hard to coordinate the relations between all parties, and registered him in the Olympic Committee.
In July, when the news of Liu Changchun's participation in the Olympic Games spread, the whole country was full of joy.
This not only represents the realization of the sports dream of the Chinese people, but also represents the opening of The door for China to prove itself to the world!
On July 8, 1932, the Xinguan Wharf in Shanghai was crowded.
In the anticipative eyes of thousands of people, Liu Changchun took the national flag in the hands of IOC member Wang Zhengyan, looked solemn, and stepped onto the ship.
Thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, to cross half the world to reach, Liu Changchun will be on the ship, starting a long 21-day voyage.
It was also during these 21 days that he experienced unprecedented challenges.
Wind and waves, poor food, seasickness...
The physical discomfort is tolerable, and the most resentful thing is the contempt of foreigners.
When eating, they only left a small corner for Chinese and said on their toes:
"You eat there."
While in the port of Kobe, Japan, Liu Changchun was also nakedly provoked by reporters:
"Are you representing China?" Or does it represent Manchukuo? ”
This made Liu Changchun extremely angry, and he fought back with righteousness and sternness:
"We represent the Republic of China, not pseudo-Manchuria!"
But the Japanese thief's heart does not die. One day, they sent a telegram to Liu Changchun, the cover was deliberately not paid, only wrote a few words: Olympiad team.
The contestants often received congratulatory letters from all over the world, and Liu Changchun did not think too much when he signed the telegram.
But when he looked back, his lungs were going to explode.
The text of the telegram reads: Manchukuo Olympiad Team, Liu Changchun.
Liu Changchun angrily clutched the printing paper, immediately went to the telecommunications officer, demanded that the signature be withdrawn, and said to him:
"There are no Manchukuo representatives on board, please go back!"
Since then, Liu Changchun has never landed in Japan again.
During the time he stayed on the ship, Liu Changchun insisted on moving on the deck even if he could not train.
After a long bump, he finally arrived in Los Angeles the day before the opening ceremony.
In this strange land, there are already hundreds of Chinese people, full of expectations, to welcome his arrival.
On July 31, Liu Changchun, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, stood on the track of the 100-meter track and field race.
White shirt, black pants, which symbolizes the white mountains and black water, is Liu Changchun's hometown in the northeast where his soul is haunted.
Despite the exhaustion of the road, he still tried to adjust his state and not let everyone down.
With the sound of the starting gun, Liu Changchun riveted his strength and sped forward.
However, due to the lack of training for more than twenty days before, the final results came out, and he was still nearly 1 second slower than the normal level.
Coupled with physical weakness, Liu Changchun did not achieve a good position in the later 200-meter preliminaries.
The "first person in the Olympics" who has been admired by countless Chinese people has folded in the Olympic arena.
However, despite the defeat, Liu Changchun cherished his time in Los Angeles.
Every day, he would go to the Olympic site to watch the game, take out a book, and carefully record the pre-race preparation and running movements of foreign athletes for reference.
Every minute of the expedition for the country is precious, how can it be wasted because of personal gains and losses.
It was this spirit that impressed the members of the Olympic Committee.
Before the end of the Games, Liu Changchun received a special invitation that read:
"The Olympic champion celebration dinner, specially invited Liu Changchun to participate."
When Liu Changchun, as the only player in China, came to the banquet, everyone stood up en masse and gave him thunderous applause.
Coubertin, the "Father of the Olympics," once said:
"The most important thing about the Olympics is not to win, but to participate.
Just like the most essential thing in life, it is not triumph, but hard work. ”
For Liu Changchun, it doesn't matter whether he has won a medal or not.
The moment he stepped onto the runway, he had already proved to the world that the Chinese spirit would never stop!
In 1949, after the founding of New China, Liu Changchun returned to the sports field as a coach.
34 years later, Liu Changchun died of a sudden illness.
Just a year after his departure, shooter Xu Haifeng will win the first gold medal of the Olympic Games for Chinese.
The scene of the Chinese people seizing gold, Liu Changchun can no longer see.
But the power he passed down still continues in the blood of the nation, inspiring future generations and living forever.
There is a hot question on Zhihu:
The history of Chinese competitive sports can be called a great person, why is there Liu Changchun?
Gaozan replied: No athlete has ever carried such a heavy mission like him, but also has such a strong will.
At the time of the nation's peril, it was he who was sincere, led the expedition, and used his proud specialty to make China stand in front of the world for the first time.
Although he did not get a medal, Liu Changchun was a real warrior!
He spent 73 years of his life telling us:
Many times, life is often not in the pursuit of results, more important than victory, is a person's indomitable will.
The road is obstructed and long, and the line is not quit, although there are tens of millions of people, I am going to die.
This is the immortal significance of "Liu Changchun" to the Olympic sports world and to the world!
This article is written by Takeshi
Editor-in-Charge: LightLy