Zhou Jihong turned to diving and achieved the first diving gold medal
At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, the Chinese delegation participated in the diving competition for the first time. For a long time, China has not participated in diving competitions in the Olympic Games, and Chinese diving was still in its infancy at that time.
Zhou Jihong, who was 19 years old at the time, traveled to Los Angeles with the team as a substitute athlete for the Chinese national team. Originally, she was just an ordinary gymnast.
But one day, her coach discovered her hidden diving talent, and she switched to Xi diving at the age of 13. Zhou Jihong is talented and has made rapid progress.
Through hard work, she quickly made a name for herself in several competitions at home and abroad, impressing her coach and teammates.
No one thought that the opportunity would come so suddenly. Just one day before the opening ceremony, one of the main divers of the Chinese national team was accidentally injured and was unable to play. The coaches were in a dilemma, and finally decided that Zhou Jihong would take on this important responsibility.
When Zhou Jihong walked onto the competition venue, countless pairs of surprised and suspicious eyes gathered on her. Can a newcomer from an ordinary gymnastics event achieve good results on the stage of his Olympic debut? The pressure and doubts are rising one after another, but Zhou Jihong is not afraid.
She adjusts her mentality, focuses on the game, and grasps every movement.
In the end, Zhou Jihong won with 435. A high score of 51 points won the gold medal and wrote a historic moment. When the national flag fluttered high and the national anthem resounded in the sky, she couldn't help but shed tears of excitement.
At this moment, she finally completed the great leap from gymnastics to diving, and also achieved her life goal of winning glory for the country. She achieved China's first diving gold medal in Olympic history, opening a glorious chapter in China's diving program.
Retired and returned, leading the team for 25 years
After winning the first gold, Zhou Jihong ushered in the peak of her career, she won consecutive championships on the international stage in the 80s, and was known as the "Golden Doll". However, in 1986, Zhou Jihong, who was only 24 years old, resolutely announced his retirement.
After retiring from the army, Zhou Jihong returned to campus and studied Xi English at Peking University. At the same time, she met Tian Bingyi, the other half of her life. The two successfully entered into marriage, and Zhou Jihong also became a wife and mother.
However, at this moment, the national team fell into a slump. The national team's performance, which lacks pillars, has plummeted, and Zhou Jihong, who urgently needs to return to guidance, has a brilliant resume. For the sake of the national diving career, Zhou Jihong resolutely put down his family and returned to the national team as a coach.
At first, many questioned whether a young mother who had just given birth was qualified to train athletes. But Zhou Jihong proved himself with practical actions. She innovates and innovates training methods, strictly requires discipline from team members, and also gives positive encouragement.
Under her 25 years of hard work, many star players have emerged in the Chinese diving team, and they have achieved great results repeatedly.
From the 80s of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century, under the leadership of Zhou Jihong, the Chinese team won many championships in the World Cup, World Championships and Olympic Games. Every time he stood on the podium, Zhou Jihong would shed tears of excitement.
This represents the results of her unremitting efforts over the past 25 years, and it is also the glory of Chinese diving.
expelled Tian Liang and praised Quan Hongchan
In 2005, Zhou Jihong, who was still coaching at the time, made a sensational decision - to fire the popular diver Tian Liang.
Tian Liang, as a top athlete of the national team, is a household name. His expulsion immediately caused an uproar across the country, and the public questioned whether Zhou Jihong's move was excessive.
But in the face of different opinions, Zhou Jihong did not flinch, she bluntly said that Tian Liang repeatedly violated the team rules and must be severely punished.
Tian Liang ignored management and participated in commercial activities without authorization, which in Zhou Jihong's view was disrespectful to the national team. The rules must be strictly enforced, otherwise the team will be difficult to manage.
In order to ensure the atmosphere of the team, she chose to expel Tian Liang as a bad example.
Unlike punishing Tian Liang, Zhou Jihong encouraged Guo Jingjing, who was obedient and obedient. She suggested that Guo Jingjing obtain a referee certificate after retiring, which pointed out the direction for Guo Jingjing's development after retirement.
Zhou Jihong's consistent and unbiased style has changed the atmosphere of the team. The rookie all-red cicada was able to grow up in a well-disciplined environment. Under Zhou Jihong's training, from 2006 to 2008, Quan Hongcia won multiple championships in the World Cup, World Championships and Beijing Olympics.
Zhou Jihong's expulsion of Tian Liang marked that the Chinese diving team had entered a new era of discipline and order.
Perseverance, the Iron Lady of Chinese diving
Zhou Jihong, a legendary name. From an athlete to a coach, she has spent her whole life in Chinese diving, and is known as the "Iron Lady of Chinese Diving".
In the 80s of the 20th century, Zhou Jihong won China's first Olympic diving gold medal as an athlete, creating a glorious history of China's sport.
After retiring, she regained her dream and became the head coach of the Chinese diving team. In the past 25 years, Zhou Jihong has witnessed the golden age of diving in China. Under her tutelage, not only many diving stars were born, but the Chinese team also won gold and silver in world-class events.
Every time she was at the flag-raising ceremony, she would shed tears of emotion. While making achievements, Zhou Jihong also experienced many doubts. When Tian Liang was fired, she was uncompromising in the face of external pressure; In the early days of her coaching, she also withstood doubts from all sides.
But Zhou Jihong never flinched and always trained athletes with determination to prove himself with results. In the past 25 years, Zhou Jihong has led by example, daring to innovate and reform, but paying more attention to discipline. She set rules and enforce rules, which has achieved the spirit of strict discipline of the Chinese team.
It is precisely because of such an iron lady who is loyal to the country that China's diving career can always lead the world and bloom into gorgeous flowers.
Today, Zhou Jihong has faded out of the front-line coaching work, but she is worthy of the responsibility of a coach and the reputation of "China's diving iron lady". Her story will surely inspire every Chinese athlete to never give up and forge ahead.