Dialogue with female flyer Ge Manqi: My life is up to me, and I will tie Nezha's head at the Paris Olympics

In the athletics arena of the Hangzhou Asian Games, the name of female flyer Ge Manqi is remembered by more people, not only for her speed, but also for her iconic Nezha head shape. In an exclusive interview with a reporter from Beijing Youth Daily, Ge Manqi said: "I am not qualified to say that I am a female flyer now, because I have not yet broken the 11-second time of my eldest sister (Wei Yongli), and when I break through 11 seconds, I may be eligible to take this flag." ”

Beijing Youth Daily: What does the double 100m and relay win mean to you at the Asian Games?

Ge Manqi: I think the Asian Games championship is very important to me, it makes me experience the most meaningful lesson of my life. I wasn't in good shape for a lot of the time this year, but I persevered. The process in between was boring and painful, and I wanted each training session to improve over the previous one, but sometimes I couldn't, and there were a few times when I broke down. The coach and team doctor told me not to give up, it will definitely get better. Late in the preparation, I did a better job of injury control, which is important for me. Because injuries really affected my results this season, but as long as I manage my injuries, the results will be better.

Beijing Youth Daily: You mentioned the collapse, tell us an example?

Ge Manqi: I remember it was in April or May this year, when I was training in the United States, and one night I felt very confused, I felt that I had to face a lot of uncertainties, and I thought about the ups and downs I encountered this year, and I missed my master (the late coach Liu Zhaoxu) very much, and I cried for an hour that night. I often cried when I was alone, but got better the next day, and so on for months.

Beijing Youth Daily: What do you think of the 11.23 seconds winning time?

Ge Manqi: To be able to run the best result of the season this year in such a difficult situation is a kind of self-affirmation, which shows that my strength is still there. Next, my goal was to try to meet the Olympic standards, and now the Olympic standard has been raised to 11.07 seconds, which is a new challenge. For me, I don't want to stop working hard because it's difficult, I have to make higher demands on myself. In fact, my dream is not just to achieve the goal, but to break through 11 seconds.

Beijing Youth Daily: After this Asian Games, many people called you a female flyer?

Ge Manqi: I don't think I'm qualified to take on such a title yet. The eldest sister (Wei Yongli) in the team has the best results, she is also a role model for me to learn from, and the only female athlete on the Chinese team to break 11 seconds is her. So, when I break through 11 seconds to be qualified to take over the flag in my eldest sister's hand, I still have to continue to work hard.

Beijing Youth Daily: Your Nezha head shape is very eye-catching this time, what is the intention?

Ge Manqi: Actually, I already tied this hairstyle in 2021, and at that time, in order to relieve the tension, many people reported that it was cute and suitable for me, so I carried it forward to the Tokyo Olympics. This hairstyle is very similar to Nezha, and I would also like to bring Chinese elements to Japan, which is also a sign of confidence.

In 2022, I haven't had this hairstyle for a whole year. This year is a difficult year, and I am competing on my doorstep, I think this hairstyle has brought me good luck and many championships before (three gold medals at the 2021 National Games), and the venue in Hangzhou Lotus Stadium is also very suitable for this hairstyle, because Nezha has a saying, my life is up to me. This sentence is very in line with my experience, I have been so difficult this year, experienced ups and downs, but I still have to stick to the end with a mentality of not admitting defeat, I think this hairstyle is a manifestation of spirit. So next year at the Paris Olympics, I'll be going to have this hairstyle again.

Beijing Youth Daily: In what ways do you hope this year's winter training will be improved?

Ge Manqi: After going to the United States to train this year, I also found that I need to further improve in some aspects and details, including strengthening hip strength, starting technique and technical connection.

Beijing Youth Daily: Tell me more about your story with your master Liu Chaoxu?

Ge Manqi: I started practicing with my master when I was about 13 years old, and that was also when I was the least sensible. When I first joined the team, I had a certain talent, and the master also valued me and took care of me, I was very naughty and did not have a clear goal. I was a little girl in the team, and the master especially spoiled me. I remember that I was malnourished, so he would buy me nutrition out of his own pocket and take his own chicken soup to the track and field to watch me drink it. There were many, many things like this, and he took care of me like a father, but I was very rebellious at the time, and sometimes I would talk back to him or even quarrel, but the master always patiently taught me to behave and do things.

For a while, my grades stagnated and my master was anxious, but I didn't understand his pressure at the time. After losing a few competitions, I seemed to suddenly understand his good intentions, once I hugged my master and said that I didn't want to lose again, he said, if you don't want to shed tears after the game, then you should shed more tears in your usual training. At that time, I was determined to run well for him and for myself.

We climbed up step by step, and there were setbacks along the way, but we kept running in and communicated well with each other. In 2019, my results began to explode, his hard work was not in vain, I was especially proud during that time, and I won three gold medals at the 2021 National Games. Next we want to achieve something bigger, but last year... (choked), although he is no longer with me, I know that he has been with me and kept me improving, which also gives me infinite strength.

Text/Beiqing Sports Song Xiang