Many people feel sorry for Zhang Baihao, because he is the only one of the four Chinese short track speed skaters who did not win an individual medal at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon Province. But looking back on the various accidents that happened on the field in the past few days, the 17-year-old Shanghai teenager Zhang Baihao has a calm face: "It's okay, the medal is still Chinese!"
The short track speed skating competition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games ended on the 24th, and the Chinese team won 4 golds and 4 silvers. Zhang Bohao only won one gold medal in the mixed relay (related link), but he was not without the strength to stand on the podium.
Zhang Baihao (right) and teammate Zhang Xinzhe celebrate after the game on January 21
Zhang Baihao and teammate Zhang Xinzhe both competed in the men's 1500m, 1000m and 500m. In the 1500m race, Zhang Baihao finished fifth. In the 1000m final, Zhang Baihao and Zhang Xinzhe crossed the line one after another, but Zhang Baihao was judged to have committed a foul, and Zhang Xinzhe won the championship.
From the championship to no results, Zhang Baihao recalled, "The moment I was sentenced, I actually still had some reluctance in my heart, because my first place was gone." But my teammates are still champions, so we are still number one in China. I won the first place to win glory for the country, and my teammates won the first place to win glory for the country, in fact, they are all the same. ”
The most regrettable thing is that in the 500m final, when it came to the last corner of the last lap, the American runner was the first to cross the line, and the Filipino runner lost his center of gravity when he wanted to overtake him in the inner lane, and he also brought down Zhang Baihao when he fell. This made Zhang Xinzhe, who was originally ranked fourth, cross the finish line for the second time, and Zhang Baihao also changed from the original runner-up to the fourth place, and once again missed the podium.
China's Zhang Baihao (right) is taken down during a sprint on January 22
After finishing all the competitions, Zhang Baihao said: "Actually, I also want a medal of my own, but it has happened." Every player will compete and want to climb higher on the podium. The third wants to fight for the second, and the second wants to fight for the first, which is understandable. Short track speed skating is one such dramatic event. ”
Zhang Baihao said that although he did not stand on the podium in the first three events, he had actually slid out of his domineering and strength, and he was very happy to show himself.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly in the short track speed skating mixed relay competition on the 24th, and Zhang Baihao and his teammates led all the way and won the gold medal with an absolute advantage.
China's Li Jinkai (back right), Yang Jingru (front right), Zhang Baihao (back left) and Zhang Xinzhe celebrate after the match on January 24
"When I came out of the last corner, the finish line was getting closer and closer to me, and I felt really excited about it. I was so excited, so happy, I felt my heart tremble. ”
Although Zhang Baihao can be relieved to miss the medal, when the gold medal finally comes, he still has to admit that it feels good to win the gold.
Text: Wang Chunyan