Zhang Boheng returned to Changsha Gymnastics School. Photography / Fu Huanyu
Red Network Moment News, October 9 (Reporter Fu Huanyu) "Dear teachers, dear students, hello everyone! I'm Zhang Boheng, I'm back! On the afternoon of October 8, Zhang Boheng, the gymnastics world champion who had just finished his journey to the Hangzhou Asian Games and was resting at home in Changsha, walked into Changsha Gymnastics School located on Moon Island Road, Wangcheng District, Changsha City, together with coach Chen Wei, and was warmly welcomed by the teachers and students of the school.
The young athlete presented flowers to Zhang Boheng. Photography / Fu Huanyu
Returning with the glory of three gold medals in the Asian Games, Zhang Boheng presented a heavy gift to his alma mater - a 156-gram Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal. This gold medal will be permanently kept by Changsha Gymnastics School and placed in the most conspicuous position in the school honor hall after the completion of the hall.
Zhang Boheng donated an Asian Games gold medal to the school. Photo by Yin Xiangqian
After entering the school, Zhang Boheng and Chen Wei also went to the training hall to watch the training session and interacted closely with the young athletes, signing autographs, answering questions and taking photos for them. Chen Wei also explained the essentials of technical movements such as pommel horse for young athletes.
Chen Wei instructed young athlete Qin Chunming's pommel horse training on the spot. Photography / Fu Huanyu
After receiving guidance from Zhang Boheng and Chen Wei, Qin Chunming, an 8-year-old who won 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medals in gymnastics at the 14th Hunan Provincial Games in 2022 and 7 gold medals in the 2023 National School Gymnastics Championships, said that he would train harder and learn from Zhang Boheng and Li Xiaopeng, and would win glory for Hunan and China in the future.
Zhang Boheng met the signature needs of the young athletes one by one. Photography / Fu Huanyu
Zhang Boheng said that looking at the young athletes who were training, it was natural to recall the appearance of when he had just entered school and started training in 2004. "I was born in 2000, and four years later I was chosen by my mentor and Olympic champion Li Xiaopeng's coach Qiu Qi (note: now the vice principal of Changsha Gymnastics School). If it had not been for Mr. Qiu's appreciation at that time, and without my alma mater's cultivation of me, I might not have had the opportunity to achieve today's results step by step. Although Changsha Gymnastics School has moved from the original Helong Old Campus in Tianxin District to the current Moon Island Road in Wangcheng District compared to that time, the solid foundation laid during the school's training and the fighting spirit brought to him by the school coach still benefit Zhang Boheng a lot. In 2009, Zhang Boheng was sent to the Hunan Provincial Gymnastics Team, and in 2018, he was sent to the national training team, officially starting Zhang Boheng's brilliant gymnastics career.
Zhang Boheng took a group photo with the leaders, school athletes and coaches attending the event. Photo by Yin Xiangqian
At the donation ceremony, Qiu Qi expressed his gratitude and blessings to Zhang Boheng on behalf of the school, and he hoped that all students in the school could follow Zhang Boheng's example, and continue to surpass and improve their strength in subsequent training and learning, "When Zhang Boheng entered the school, he regarded Li Xiaopeng as his own goal, and hoped that everyone could be like Zhang Boheng back then, and then regard Zhang Boheng as his own goal, learn from him, become him, and surpass him one day in the future!" Qiu Qi said that he believes that Zhang Boheng's competitive state can achieve another good result in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and welcomes Zhang Boheng to return to his alma mater often.
The young athletes said that they should learn from Senior Zhang Boheng. Photography / Fu Huanyu
Gao Wenqi, Vice Mayor of Changsha Municipal People's Government, Su Minfang, Director of Changsha Sports Bureau, and Qin Shiping, Deputy Director of Changsha Sports Bureau, attended the event.
Zhang Boheng signed his poster. Photography / Fu Huanyu
Changsha Gymnastics School was founded in 1985, affiliated to Changsha Sports Bureau, undertaking the tasks of competition, management, training, transportation and guidance of Changsha gymnastics, trampoline, street dance and other sports, and cultivated and transported a number of Olympic champions and world champions such as Li Xiaopeng, Tan Jiaxian, Wang Taoyu and Zhang Boheng, and was known as the "cradle of world champions".
At the just-concluded Hangzhou Asian Games, Zhang Boheng won 3 golds and 1 silver. Photo by Chen Jie