In 2013, an inconspicuous athlete quietly came to the swimming competition field of the National Games. His name is Ning Zetao, and he was just in his early 20s at this time. Before the game, almost no one paid attention to this young man who was training silently.
But when he entered the water, he was like an agile fish, shuttling back and forth in the pool. In the 50m and 100m events, he achieved very good results and successfully won the championship.
When Ning Zetao came out of the water and heard the cheers from the audience, he couldn't believe it.
"Flying fish in the water" - this reputation has also accompanied Ning Zetao since then. Originally unknown, he became famous in a fight, became famous for a while, and became a rookie who paid attention to the whole country.
A year later, Ning Zetao shined in the swimming pool of the Asian Games. This time, he won the championship easily in every event he participated in, winning a total of 4 golds and 1 bronze.
In the stands, the audience and media reporters cheered for this "Asian Flying Fish" whose strength is gradually revealed.
In two years, Ning Zetao proved that he is the leader of the new generation of Asian swimmers with his strength. Several Asian records were rewritten by this dreamy teenager. And this is just the beginning of Ning Zetao's career.
Despite his victory, he still retains his passion and awe for swimming. Ning Zetao did not get carried away because of his momentary achievements, but trained harder to prepare for the next journey.
In a later interview, he modestly said that his success was fortunate to meet good coaches and teammates, and it was also inseparable from the country's training.
After showing his edge, Ning Zetao took another step forward on the steps of life. And the broader world and extraordinary achievements are waiting for this young man full of fighting spirit ahead.
In 2015, Ning Zetao entered a new starting point in his life - the World Championships.
For an Asian player, reaching the final of the World Championships is an extraordinary achievement. But Ning Zetao's requirements for himself have never stopped there.
In the preliminaries, he played calmly and calmly, and quickly won the group and got the chance to enter the final. This has exceeded many people's expectations.
On the day of the final, the stands were packed with spectators, and in the middle of the pool, the world's top players were waiting for the starting gun to sound.
"Bang!" A gunshot rang out, and all the players entered the water at the same time. Ning Zetao was like a sensitive fish, jumping up quickly in the water and paddling forward.
This is a crucial battle in Ning Zetao's career. Despite facing world-class athletes, he didn't panic at all and kept his best shape and gave it his all. 50 meters, 100 meters...... Ning Zetao has always been at the forefront.
At this time, Ning Zetao was extremely excited, and he became the first Asian player to reach the final of the World Championships and win the championship, making history.
After the game, Ning Zetao climbed onto the podium, held the national flag, and proudly waved to the audience. The audience burst into applause as everyone paid tribute to the 20-year-old Asian hero.
At this moment, Ning Zetao burst into tears. This is not only a personal victory for him, but also a victory for the entire Asian swimming community, and an encouragement and motivation for those who come after him.
Winning the World Championships has created a legendary stroke of Ning Zetao. And for after winning the championship, he can still maintain a humble and hard-working mentality, which is even more respectable.
At only 20 years old, Ning Zetao has become a leader in sprint freestyle in Asia. And his story has just begun. On the eve of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Ning Zetao encountered the first major turmoil in his life.
In the beginning, it was just a trifle. As a popular player, Ning Zetao was invited by a sports brand Yili to shoot an advertisement and sign a contract to become a spokesperson, which was originally a normal business cooperation.
But soon, a new leader came to the team, but he cooperated with Ning Zetao's rival brand Mengniu, and asked Ning Zetao to endorse Mengniu instead.
Faced with a dilemma, Ning Zetao chose to go against the will of the leadership and refused to terminate the contract. He believes that as an athlete, integrity is the most important thing.
This decision changed Ning Zetao's fate. The leader was very dissatisfied with him, and the attitude of the team also changed subtly.
At the Olympic Games, Ning Zetao was temporarily notified to change the competition program. He didn't have time to adjust, his form was greatly affected, and he finally missed the final.
After that, someone maliciously reported that Ning Zetao had taken stimulants. Although it was found to be a rumor, he was devastated physically and mentally.
Ning Zetao, who was originally smooth sailing, encountered the first big storm in his career after the Olympic Games.
Maybe it's just Game of Thrones, a decision that changes fate. But Ning Zetao does not regret his original choice - as an athlete, only by sticking to integrity can he face the public and himself.
After the turmoil, Ning Zetao calmed down. He knew that a harder path awaited him. However, he was not afraid and only sought a chance to prove himself. After the Rio Olympics, Ning Zetao suffered one blow after another.
The first was the framing of doping, although the suspicion was finally cleared, he was still taken for blood and urine tests many times, and he was physically and mentally exhausted. What he didn't expect was that after the Olympics, Ning Zetao was suddenly transferred out of the national team and returned to the original provincial team without warning.
At first, Ning Zetao didn't feel anything unusual. Until the moment he returned to the provincial team to report for duty, he was stunned - his bed and lockers had been emptied, and all his personal belongings were gone.
There were no more familiar faces in the team, and even the original coaches were all transferred. And the new management sneered at Ning Zetao, and the whole team seemed to be isolated from him.
Only then did Ning Zetao realize that the superiors had lost trust in him, and wanted to separate him and no longer give him a chance.
Despite the bitterness in his heart, Ning Zetao did not give up. Even when he was isolated by his teammates, he insisted on participating in training and borrowing other people's meal cards to eat. Every morning, Ning Zetao will still be the first to appear in the training hall, and then finish the course and leave quietly.
Criticism and doubts from the outside world could not shake this arrogant young man in the slightest. He just wants to prove himself and get back on the field of action for his country. This period of time was a huge psychological test for Ning Zetao.
But he didn't back down and just waited for the opportunity to prove everything. After experiencing all kinds of torture, Ning Zetao chose to return. In 2017, Ning Zetao restarted to participate in swimming competitions. Despite all the talk about him, he focused on the game.
This time, Ning Zetao proved that he is still the unshakable "Asian Flying Fish". In the 100m freestyle event, he won the championship with a time of 48.58 seconds, which not only broke his own Asian record, but also showed his strong strength.
In every subsequent competition, Ning Zetao maintained his best competitive condition. Unaffected by external criticism, he has proven himself again and again. Unlike those who questioned him, Ning Zetao never let go of his love for swimming.
I still train at a high intensity every day and update my skills. The players in the same period also felt strong pressure from Ning Zetao. Every time you play against him, you have to give it your all. On the field, Ning Zetao has completely focused on winning the championship.
He defeated not only his opponents, but also himself. Winning the championship in 2017 is the best response to all those who doubt him. Ning Zetao proved with his strength that he is still a world-class player standing on the cusp.
Public opinion can deceive, but results don't lie. Ning Zetao used his own way to crush those voices who questioned him. A year later, Ning Zetao has regained his footing at the top of the Asian track and field world. All attempts to suppress him have come to naught.
In March 2019, a piece of news caused a stir in the sports world. Ning Zetao, who was only 23 years old, announced his official retirement at the peak of his career. When he retired, Ning Zetao looked relaxed and calm, but he thought about this decision for a long time.
I think that the experience of the past few years has had a deep impact on him. Lost the Olympics, encountered doubts, and was transferred from the national team. All the controversy haunted the young man's mind.
Therefore, after going through all kinds of experiences, Ning Zetao finally made up his mind and chose his own path. Perhaps in the eyes of the outside world, this is a pity. But for Ning Zetao, retirement is just a new beginning.
After leaving the swimming lane, he began a new Xi, seeing the vast world and thinking about the meaning of life. Ning Zetao also tried different hobbies, and golf became his new passion.
Faced with questions from the media, he freely said that this was another skill delayed by swimming. After retiring, Ning Zetao began to enjoy life. He no longer deliberately shy away from the topic of the past.
Life is still long, and for 23-year-old Ning Zetao, this is just a new journey. He is looking forward to continuing his dream and moving forward on a new path.
Although the outside world has speculated, Ning Zetao has his own answer in his heart. He just wants to feel life and live his life. Looking back at Ning Zetao's sports career, what we see is a hero who is not afraid of difficulties and pursues excellence.
He has gone from an unknown athlete to a legend in Asian athletics. But the process was not smooth and even full of thorns. Ning Zetao, who is in his 20s, has experienced all kinds of ups and downs in life.
But each time, he chose to move forward bravely and not give up on his dream. He wasn't born a hero, but became a hero through his own efforts. When he fell into self-doubt, it was Ning Zetao's enthusiasm for swimming that supported him;
In the face of criticism, it was his belief in himself that made him stand on his feet. It's like a boat on the cusp of the storm, as long as you keep the direction in mind, you can cut through the waves and reach the other side.
There is no if in life, and the past experience has made Ning Zetao. And he in the past is also inspiring us today in another way. Not afraid of difficulties, brave to move forward; Dream and strive for excellence. This is Ning Zetao's life code.
Another brand new morning is just around the corner. Life is endless, and the struggle is endless. For Ning Zetao, the voyage of life is still long, and there are countless possibilities ahead. That once fearless teenager has grown into a young man full of expectations for tomorrow.
The glory of yesterday is history, and the future is still promising. No matter how many ups and downs I go through, my dreams have never changed. Ning Zetao's story contains a valuable philosophy of life.
In his short but eye-catching sports career, the most admirable thing is that Ning Zetao has always kept his original intention. Although he encountered unprecedented doubts and blows after losing the Olympic Games, Ning Zetao did not choose to escape or give up.
He kept his original intention of being an athlete, and no matter what the outside world said, he still chose to return to the swimming lane to fight. It is because he remembers what he is fighting for that he has the courage to face adversity and start anew. On the road of life, each of us will encounter similar choices.
When faced with doubts, if you see your original intention, you can regain your strength. In many cases, success or failure has nothing to do with others. The key is to know the meaning of life.
Ning Zetao's story also reminds us that when we are confused, what we have to do is to return to our original intention. Only by guarding your heart can you go long. And when he announced his retirement, all kinds of speculation were rife in the outside world, but Ning Zetao was very clear about his direction.
He didn't start for anything else, so he didn't end for anything else. On the journey of his life, every footprint is imprinted with his original intention. This is also the reason why Ning Zetao was finally able to move forward without fear.
Choosing your own path and living your own true colors may be Ning Zetao's best inspiration to us.