Chongli, Hebei, February 14 (Xinhua) -- On February 14, in the women's aerial skills final of freestyle skiing at the Beijing Winter Olympics, Xu Mengtao, the "elder of the four dynasties" of the Winter Olympics, withstood the pressure and won the fifth gold medal for the Chinese team at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
On February 14, China's Xu Mengtao played in the women's aerial skills final of freestyle skiing at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xue Yubin
The scene boiled over. In the Genting Ski Park, which is more than 20 degrees Celsius below zero, shouts and shouts are heard one after another. Xu Mengtao, 31, knelt on the snow, made a "first" gesture with his fingers, held the national flag high above his head, and ran around the arena.
At this moment, the honor belongs to Xu Mengtao, to those pavers and founders of China's ice and snow sports, and to Kong Fanyu, who fights side by side with Xu Mengtao.
On February 14, China's Kong Fanyu won the women's aerial skills final at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fei Maohua
Kong Fanyu, born in 1993, was sent by his family to the Anshan Sports School in Liaoning Province to practice gymnastics at the age of 5, and was selected by the Heilongjiang Provincial Team in 2002 to start a career in freestyle skiing. The emaciated, not-so-tall Northeastern girl is resilient and tough, winning the bronze medal in the women's aerial skills event at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics four years ago.
Regarding the trip to Pyeongchang, Kong Fanyu was both satisfied and regretful. Satisfied because she was injured, her original goal was only to reach the final, and the bronze medal she won far exceeded her expectations. Regret also comes from injuries: under the influence of knee injuries, Kong Fanyu was not able to show his full difficulty on the field in Pyeongchang.
Four years later, Beijing should be her dream journey. Sixth place, this is her final result. Walking out of the mixed picking area after the game, Kong Fanyu choked up and couldn't even say a complete sentence.
In the first jump of the first round of the final that night, Kong Fanyu scored a high score of 102.71; in the second jump, she fell heavily on the snow and only scored 62.24 points.
The two jumps took the higher score, and Kong Fanyu successfully entered the second round of the final. This round, a jump is set.
In the end, the 6 players who played out all came up with their own top difficulty, and Kong Fanyu made the fourth appearance with a difficulty coefficient of 4.293. Like the previous jump, he fell to the ground when he landed, and finally scored only 59.67 points.
"Tonight's final, I fought side by side with Xu Mengtao, and I came for this gold medal." Kong Fanyu said that in the second jump of the first round of the final and the final "Big Showdown", she chose to challenge the most difficult action of the women's aerial skills in the world today, "We just must fight for this gold medal for the Chinese team!" ”
"Tonight, I can stand on this stage, which is a big breakthrough. In four years, I had two surgeries, and every time I jumped in the air, I fought for the honor of the country. Kong Fanyu said, tears flowing out.
She covered her face and walked slowly out of the mixed interview area. In the wind and snow, this thin back is full of might.
Reporters: Li Linhai, Chen Di, Xia Liang, Zhu Qing
Source: Xinhua News Agency