Written by Li Peixin
Editor/Li Xu Liang Lina
Visual/Wang Ye Liu Liang
When Su Bingtian surprised the 100-meter field of the Tokyo Olympics with a score of 9.83 meters, 23-year-old Gong Naiying wrote on social platforms: "I also learned from you, and I have always believed that China's speed is not worse than foreigners." In the qualifying match on February 8, she proved it with a tenacious fighting spirit.
Gong Naiying is the leader of the snowboard slalom project in China. In order to achieve a breakthrough in snow racing, she has been struggling for more than ten years at a young age.
Now, "ten years of grinding a sword", in the women's parallel giant slalom qualifier, Miyano Ying sharp blade out of the sheath, in the white and boundless snow path slipped out of a touch of Chinese red. In the end, Gong Naiying ranked nineteenth with a score of 1:29.31, ranking 19th and failing to reach the final, she is the first world champion of China's parallel giant slalom, and she is the king.
1. Is it cold? Tired? Bitter? No! In this decade, I have been happy
"The coldest (training ski) is in Yabuli, minus 40 degrees, the cable car has no boxes, it's all hanging chairs, and there are scars on the face." Gong Naiying, a Chinese snowboard slalom athlete, recalled in the cold wind, "Injuries such as hand hitting the flag goalpost are very common, and it is easy to fracture. ”
Practicing snowboarding in parallel giant slalom was a choice that Gong Made herself. "My goal and dream of choosing this sport in the first place was the Olympics." In order to achieve the original goal, Gong Naiying has struggled for more than 4,000 days and nights.
Born in 1998, Miyano began to practice skiing at the age of five, and before she was ten years old, she made a very important decision in her life - to switch to snowboarding. Gong Naiying recalled that the reason for "changing careers" was very simple, that is, she thought the veneer was too cool. In many competitive events of snowboarding, Gong Naiying chose the parallel giant slalom event, and the format of the two-two duel is very suitable for Gong Naiying, who has the attribute of "the newborn calf is not afraid of the tiger" in her personality.
(Gong Naiying in training)
"I was very adept when I was young, but it was different as soon as I played. When others are resting, I will practice on my own. Asian players engaged in parallel rotation events are generally inferior to European and American players in terms of physical fitness and strength, but Gong Naiying chose to use crazy physical training to prove that she is not worse than others, and prove with silent sweat, "I can do what others can do, and I can do better." ”
Ten years passed in a flash. Gong Naiying, whose whole life revolves around the snowboarding slalom project, lives a "minimalist" life. Don't play games, don't chase dramas, and go to the gym to pick up iron as soon as you have time. The coach once asked her, "What are your hobbies?" Gong Naiying replied without hesitation: "Physical training!" ”
"I know what I want most," said the young Gong Naiying, who had a clear goal and full of positive energy, "I am happy because I made my own choices." ”
2. The most sassy girl, rewriting the history of Chinese veneer rotation
Gong Naiying once said, "I like three kinds of people. One is a better person, the other is a person who makes me excellent, and another is a person who is willing to become good with me. "Chasing excellence and surpassing herself is the main theme of Gong Naiying's growth over the years.
On the eve of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Gong Naiying wrote on social media: "I am in Pyeongchang, I succeeded." A few days later, almost everyone was lamenting that Gong Naiying's abnormal play in the preliminary round had not won the final. Few people have noticed that standing in front of the departure gate of the Parallel Giant Slalom of the Winter Olympics, Gong Naiying has created history, and for this historic moment, the youngster who is less than 20 years old has made enough strength.
"Not once in this year's competition was to cope with things, it was all hard work." In order to earn points for the Winter Olympics, Gong Naiying traveled around the world, participating in one World Cup after another, and doing her best to win a good ranking. "Whether you are tired or not is only known to yourself!" It took a lot to stand on the podium for those few minutes! Experienced a lot of things that ordinary people can't imagine! ”
After the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Gong Naiying ushered in a series of gains: in the 2019 Snowboard Parallel Slalom World Cup Chongli Station, Gong Naiying defeated her opponent with a 0.35-second advantage, won the championship in one fell swoop, and completed the "zero breakthrough" for the Chinese team, becoming the first world champion of the Parallel Slalom event of the Chinese team; the 2020 Snowboard Parallel Slalom North American Cup won the championship and the parallel giant slalom World Cup won the sixth place in the Blue Mountain Station of Canada.
(Gong Naiying standing on the international competition field)
"In the past, every time we participated in a game, our Chinese team was the first to leave. I just don't believe in this evil, and we who can do it Chinese do it. Gong Naiying's goal is very clear, "I just want to prove that we are not worse than anyone!" ”
After receiving many honors, Gong Naiying's life seems to be "business as usual"--being easy-going and shy, and training meticulously. As a person who rewrites the history of Chinese veneer rotation, her heart is no longer a person: "I believe that my gold medal can make more people pay attention to the parallel rotation and parallel giant slalom project, and I firmly believe that this project will have a better future." ”
Gong Naiying also expressed a similar view in the foreign coach of the national team: "She (Gong Naiying) is really strong, which is very important for the whole Chinese team, and now that we have such a high-level girl, for her teammates around her, we can see the same good results, so that we can drive the overall improvement of the team's level, benefiting more than just a girl." ”
For the Beijing Winter Olympics, Gong Naiying made a wish three years ago: she hoped to enter the top four at home. "I think as long as I want to do it, there is definitely nothing that can't be done. My personality is such a sassy! Gong Naiying said.
3. 500 days as a day punch card
How many people can do the same thing for 500 days? Gong Naiying did it, and on the way to prepare for the Beijing Winter Olympics, she turned boring training into a habit.
After 500 days of countdown to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Gong Naiying opened a daily "punch card" on the social platform, reminding herself that the Winter Olympics were approaching day by day, and also recording the bits and pieces during the preparation period. For more than a year, there were few interruptions.
"Come on" is the most frequent keyword in her countdown copy: the journey of participating in various domestic and foreign competitions is full of gratitude; when achieving impressive results, it is passed by "redouble efforts"; when winning honors for the country, she is more determined to do everything for the Beijing Winter Olympics... Gong Naiying's 500-day countdown to the Winter Olympics not only condensed her own efforts and sweat, but also encouraged the majority of netizens to strive for their dreams.
Counting down 470 days, Gong Naiying released a special small video, which was a mixed cut of her own various falls. On that day, Gong Naiying wrote: "I am not very good, I have failed many times!" But I'm a 'lunatic' and I'll try to hold on until I see hope! What I want to do must be done well. As a world-class skater, Gong Naiying seems to have naturally found something in common with most "ordinary people" - setbacks are often accompanied. However, the valuable thing about Gong Naiying is that she always keeps herself in the midst of setbacks and never gives up like a "madman".
Gong Naiying, who claims to be "particularly fond of feeling tired and unable to get up during physical training, has a sense of accomplishment", often posts videos and photos of sweating in the gym. When picking up the iron, Gong Naiying's eyes are resolute, his movements are tough, and his domineering side leaks. "You have to be crazy enough to get through every day in exhaustion, ache. People who want to make themselves better, stronger, and more determined. Gong Naiying said.
"Paying" and "insisting" are the main themes set by Gong Naiying for her life.
"Every athlete may have a low point, or fail, or want to give up, or get injured, or get sick," Gong Said frankly said that it is difficult to recover to the original self, "but when we break through ourselves, we are the king." ”