BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- From February 22, 2018 to February 5, 2022, after 1,444 days, the Chinese legion welcomed the Winter Olympic gold medal again.
For the Chinese delegation, which successfully won the gold on the first day after the opening ceremony, such a wait was not long.
Because four years ago in Pyeongchang, this wait took 13 race days before receiving a response on the closing day of short track speed skating.
Wu Dajing rushed to the line instantly.
From the "first gold" of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics of the Chinese delegation to the "first gold" of the Beijing Winter Olympics of the Chinese delegation, after 1444 days, Wu Dajing once again landed on the highest podium of the Winter Olympics.
For Wu Dajing, who led the expedition, this perseverance was not easy, and it meant more than 47 months of hard work. Not to mention that in the four years of sliding to the Beijing Winter Olympics, Wu Dajing's journey has not been smooth.
After winning the men's 500m title with an unassailable advantage at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Wu Dajing became the core of the Chinese short track speed skating team. In the world, he was also once invincible on the ice of the men's 500-meter short track speed skating.
On November 27, 2021, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, Wu Dajing was in the competition at the 21/22 Short Track Speed Skating World Cup. Image source: Visual China
At the Calgary and Salt Lake City World Cups at the end of the same year, Wu Dajing not only rode the top spot in the men's 500 meters, but also broke the world record for the third time in a year.
After that, however, Wu Dajing's state fluctuated. Entering this season, Wu Dajing's stability is still pinched. This season's short track speed skating World Cup, Wu Dajing rushed out of the final in Beijing, failed to qualify for the semi-finals in Japan, and only finished fourth after being knocked down in the final in Hungary, until the dutch finale to win the first personal championship of the season.
As the Beijing Winter Olympics approached, Wu Dajing competed with himself in a state of "slow heat", but the competitors grew rapidly.
On February 23, 2018, the Winter Olympics Short Track Speed Skating Men's 5000m Relay Medal Award Ceremony was held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Hungary won gold medals in the event under the leadership of chinese brothers Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang, China won silver and Canada won bronze medals. The picture shows Hungarian athletes jumping on the podium. Photo by Cui Nan, a reporter from China News Service
Around Wu Dajing, teammate Ren Ziwei was in good shape, and the brothers Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang in Hungary were getting stronger and stronger. After PyeongChang won the historic Winter Olympic gold medal for Hungary, they prefer to make a breakthrough in individual events. In the men's 500m final of this season's World Cup in Hungary, Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang brothers defeated Wu Dajing and Ren Ziwei to win the championship and runner-up.
Not only that, the "turmoil" of the epidemic, the pressure of home battles, and the expectations carried by the only Olympic champion of the Chinese delegation have made every step of Wu Dajing's journey seem even heavier.
In the face of these difficulties, Wu Dajing gritted his teeth and resisted.
Data chart: On February 23, 2018, the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics short track speed skating men's 500m medal award ceremony was held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and China's Wu Dajing won the gold medal in the event, which was also the first gold medal of the Chinese delegation at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The picture shows Wu Dajing pointing to the five-star red flag on his chest after winning the gold medal. Photo by Cui Nan, a reporter from China News Service
"I will strengthen my training and present my best form at the Beijing Winter Olympics."
A few days ago, the Chinese short track speed skating team conducted the first training in the Year of the Tiger. In this training, the Chinese team is centered on the relay and strengthens the handover baton cooperation.
"Today, the ice rink is mainly adapted, and the team is very competitive in the relay project. We are going all out to give the Chinese delegation a sample. Wu Dajing once again made a firm statement.
It is this perseverance that accompanies Wu Dajing all the way, from the women's team sparring to the Olympic champion, and won another Olympic gold medal in the position of The Olympic champion.
On February 23, local time, the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics short track speed skating men's 500m award ceremony was held in Pyeongchang Olympic Village, and The gold medal-winning Chinese athlete Wu Dajing took the stage to receive the award.
It was also this perseverance that supported Wu Dajing in the 1444 days after he walked through the "first gold" in Pyeongchang. Finally, Wu Dajing and his teammates made the "first gold" of the Chinese delegation no longer need to wait for a long time.
The Beijing Winter Olympics schedule is still long. Wu Dajing and the Chinese short track speed skating team led by him have the opportunity to make this perseverance more cashed in. (End)