Beijing, 13 Feb (Xinhua) -- When international Olympic Committee member and China's first speed skating winter Olympic gold medalist, Zheng Hong, sat in the commentary booth of the "ice ribbon" and waited for his disciple Gao Tingyu to be "officially" crowned, time seemed to pass more slowly than it had been eight years ago.
February 13, 2014, was the day when Zhang Hong won the women's 1000m speed skating championship at the Sochi Winter Olympics, making a historic breakthrough for the Chinese speed skating team. Coincidentally, like Gao Tingyu, she appeared in the seventh group that year.
On February 12, 2022, in the men's 500m final of speed skating at the Beijing Winter Olympics, Gao Tingyu started in the seventh group of inner roads. When he finished the glide and set a new Winter Olympic record, there was group eight, group nine... Fifteenth group of players. Recalling the feeling at that time, Zhang Hong said that his palms had been sweating, and although he was still explaining, he couldn't help but look at Gao Tingyu on the field over and over again, and his results on the results bulletin board.
In the end, all the runners completed the taxi, and 34.32 seconds , a new Winter Olympic record set by Gao Tingyu , and the name of the Chinese player , still stood firmly at the top of the bulletin board. During the TV broadcast, Zhang Hong's voice was already hoarse. Describing the mood of that moment, she said: "It was even more exciting than when I won the championship!" ”
Watching him run around the field with the flag, I recalled my own images. But history is to be broken, and records are to be created. At that moment, I think he did it, he led the next generation of Iceman, speed skaters have more possibilities! Zhang Hong's tone was still undiminished.
On the evening of the 12th, Zhang Hong awarded Gao Tingyu a gold medal at the award ceremony, and China's two generations of speed skating champions completed a historic handover.
Zhang Hong revealed that this award opportunity was actually won by her. According to the original arrangement, an IOC member from Africa was responsible for the awards for the evening. But after the game, I quickly applied to this commissioner for a 'shift change'. Because it's a really meaningful gold medal, and it's also a project that I was working on. The commissioner readily agreed. ”
Talking about the tidbits before the award, Zhang Hong said that she had asked Gao Tingyu if she could give her the champion's golden "ice pier". "But he doesn't give." Zhang Hong said with a smile.
"Of course it's just a joke. I've trained with him, and for me he's a young athlete. Zhang Hong said that she has always been very willing to teach her experience to her disciple Gao Tingyu.
"I also communicate a lot, like sometimes when he feels bad, or when he adjusts the position of the ice knife, we have communication."
Also as a winter Olympic champion, Zhang Hong is well aware of the wonderful experience of athletes in the "moment of glory".
"After the game, I actually kept telling myself and the people around me not to bother Gao Tingyu and let him enjoy the moment. There is still a long way to go, I hope he does better! ”
(Xinhua News Agency)