Xinhua News Agency, Chongli, Hebei, March 9 - Zheng Peng fought! Zheng Peng won! Mao Zhongwu was behind him! Gold and silver!
In the shouts, Zheng Peng was exhausted. Until Liu Zixu and Wang Tao also crossed the finish line, and the four of them held aloft the five-star red flag to accept congratulations from the audience, Zheng Peng could only make a "ah, ah" gasp.
Champion China Zheng Peng (second from left), runner-up China Mao Zhongwu (second from right) and teammates Liu Zixu (first from right) and Wang Tao after the men's sprint (sitting) final at the Beijing Winter Paralympic Paralympic Cross-Country Skiing on March 9. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Huhu
18 matches a day, 6 finals, the first gold medal battle - paralympic cross-country skiing men's sprint (sitting) competition - let the Chinese audience fall into a carnival.
The slightly quieter audience suddenly became lively again, and the women's sprint (sitting) final began. Yang Hongqiong desperately swung his arm, changed the decline of the morning qualifiers, and went straight to the finish line, the momentum was like a broken bamboo. American Oxana Masters accelerated closer, just one position away. hasten! Accelerate again! Yang Hongqiong first! Li Panpan also buried his head in a hurry, and finally ranked third, and the two good friends smiled again.
"It's amazing!" The audience continued to exclaim, and the volunteers next to the finish line danced with their hands - Zheng Peng and Yang Hongqiong successively became "double gold" players.
Since the start of the race, the National Biathlon Center has never been so lively. The hot performance before the final was youthful and beautiful, and the dance posture of "Snow Rongrong" was naughty and cute. The enthusiasm on the sidelines rendered a slight increase in temperature, coupled with the density of the race, the track is not flat, more than ever to test the explosive power of athletes.
After receiving "Jin Rongrong" and then going to the mixed mining area, Zheng Peng was still calming his breathing.
"The temperature difference between morning and afternoon is relatively large, a bit similar to Pyeongchang's time, worried that the slippery is not good because of the weather, so it is still a little nervous." Four years ago, Cheng Peng finished fourth at the PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games, and now he has won two gold medals in the long distance and the short distance.
China's Zheng Peng (left) and Mao Zhongwu celebrate after the men's sprint (sitting) final at the Beijing Winter Paralympic Men's Sprint (Sitting Position) on March 9. In the end, Zheng Peng and Mao Zhongwu won the first and second places respectively. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Xi
Zheng Peng, who has a calm personality, said: "I feel that we skated very well today, there are no mistakes, and I feel very fortunate to be able to slide down." ”
"You are the first athlete on the Chinese team to win two gold medals, what mood are you in now?" The reporter asked.
"It was fine. The biggest (change) is that the team is getting stronger and stronger, our country has put the equipment in place for us, and the staff and the audience have cheered us on, shouted rhythm to us, which is of great help, thank you. ”
On March 9, China's Yang Hongqiong was in the competition. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Guanyu
Like Zheng Peng, Yang Hongqiong also won the gold medal in the long-distance competition on the 6th. At the time, she said she hadn't slept very late the night before, and this time she still didn't sleep well. Although the heartbeat is no longer as "naughty" as on the 6th, the brain cannot be quiet. "Last night the heart was very stable, it didn't sleep on the head, the head was too active."
In the morning qualifying round, Yang Hongqiong did not play well, her body was stiff, she had difficulty sliding, and the coach also expressed doubts about her performance. She simply went back to the lounge and lay down directly, adjusting her body.
In the final, Yang Hongqiong maintained the lead from the beginning, her swinging arms were larger than before, her back arched strongly, and her front chest was pressed to her legs. "Because I took a card in front of me, I've reached the height I wanted, and the main thing is to enjoy the game."
Champion China's Yang Hongqiong celebrates after the women's sprint (sitting) final of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Women's Sprint (Sitting) on March 9. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hou Zhaokang
"I want to lie down now, I'm very tired." Yang Hongqiong said.
The scene of Zheng Peng and Mao Zhongwu taking over gold and silver also appeared in the men's long-distance (sitting) competition on the 6th, and the two teammates were full of tacit understanding on the field. Mao Zhongwu said bluntly: "The goal of [the following competition] is that Zheng Peng and I will continue to keep the first and second places belonging to China." ”
Although he is 35 years old, Mao Zhongwu only joined the team in 2018, and many of his young teammates are his brothers. The "young general" joined the team late, paid more, got up earlier than others, and slept later than others.
China's Mao Zhongwu competes on March 9. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Guanyu
One year of wheelchair racing, four years of cross-country skiing, Mao Zhongwu said: "When I was just injured, I needed two people to help me get up, and my head was dizzy. The training in these years has made my physique particularly good, I can slide down 18 kilometers, I can compete with other people on the international stage, I feel that this is a world of difference. ”
"Through this platform, I especially hope to tell my friends with disabilities that no matter what difficulties you encounter in life and what kind of jokes fate has played with you, you must never give up." Really, our future will definitely be better, as long as we actively work hard. ”
Writer: Ji Jiadong
Participating reporters: Shu Wen, Yang Kai, Liu Bo