Entertainment
Edited by Yu Ke
Preface
In the annals of national table tennis, Wang Nan, Zhang Yining and other big devils are famous.
In addition to these two legends,
There are also two Grand Slam players who are in the spotlight: Deng Yaping and Li Xiaoxia.
Especially Li Xiaoxia, whose career is full of legends, but she is full of heartache from her coach Li Falcon.
Li Xiaoxia: From a table tennis novice to a national player, the duo of talent and hard work
It is said that when Li Xiaoxia was a child, she was an authentic "tomboy" who had a soft spot for basketball and football.
Every day, I follow a group of young boys to run crazy on the playground.
Who would have thought that such a lively and active little girl would form an indissoluble bond with table tennis in the future.
One day, Li Xiaoxia went to her mother's factory to play,
Just in time for a table tennis training class in the factory.
At that time, she was curious to take a look at it and thought that these children with rackets were very interesting.
As a result, when the teacher saw her, her eyes lit up, and she insisted that Li Xiaoxia give it a try.
Unexpectedly, this attempt turned out to be a great genius! Li Xiaoxia picked up the racket and flipped six or seven balls in one go, and the teacher was stunned.
In this way, Li Xiaoxia stepped into the world of table tennis by mistake.
Soon, her talent was noticed by the Shandong Sports Team, and at the age of 10, she left her parents and went to Jinan Sports School alone to receive professional training.
At that time, Li Xiaoxia, who left home, felt uncomfortable, and secretly wiped her tears every night.
But she knew that since she had chosen this path, she had to grit her teeth and persevere.
In the days of sports school, Li Xiaoxia practiced her skills hard and gradually emerged.
Soon, she was selected for the national second team and later promoted to the national first team.
Here, she meets the coach who changed her destiny - Li Falcon.
Coach Li not only taught her to play, but also taught her how to face failure and how to adjust her mentality.
Under the brilliant achievements of her senior sisters Wang Nan and Zhang Yining, Li Xiaoxia was not discouraged, but worked hard silently and waited for her opportunity.
In 2006, Li Xiaoxia finally had the opportunity to appear on the international stage.
Although she didn't play that time, the experience strengthened her belief.
In 2007, Li Xiaoxia began to shine on the international stage, winning one championship after another.
But at the same time, she also suffered setbacks and failures.
Sometimes, a loss in one game can put her in a slump and even doubt herself. Fortunately, with the encouragement and help of Coach Rich, she can always get back on her feet.
The most memorable thing for Li Xiaoxia is the 2008 Olympic Games.
At that time, as a P card player, she could only sit on the sidelines and watch her sisters win glory for the country.
At that moment, she had mixed feelings in her heart, both envy and unwillingness.
But she knows she still has a long way to go and more competitions to challenge.
Li Xiaoxia: From a mental breakdown to an Olympic champion, her story shines brighter than a gold medal
2008 was a year full of regrets for Li Xiaoxia.
Every athlete dreams of a stage like the Olympic Games, but Li Xiaoxia failed to play because of her mentality.
Her partner, Guo Yue, won a bronze medal at this Olympics.
Such a comparison undoubtedly brought great pressure to Li Xiaoxia.
However, even in the case of poor mentality, Li Xiaoxia's technical level is still top-notch.
She showed amazing strength in the World Cup, successfully won the women's singles title, and proved her worth with her strength.
But it also makes one wonder why such a highly skilled athlete always struggles to perform at his best when it matters most.
Psychological problems and physical distress
Li Xiaoxia's psychological problems are not groundless.
Under the pressure of the competition, her body began to experience various discomforts, which undoubtedly exacerbated her psychological burden.
In the next few years, Li Xiaoxia's performance has declined significantly, losing to her former rival Guo Yue many times, and even losing the championship with a large lead.
In 2009, Li Xiaoxia was almost on the verge of collapse.
The performance in all competitions was not satisfactory, and the huge pressure took her breathless.
But it was this predicament that became a catalyst for her growth.
Turning point in the trough and new challenges
In 2011, after Zhang Yining retired, Li Xiaoxia gradually walked out of the trough under the guidance of Coach Li Falcon.
A new challenge also came - the rise of Ding Ning.
The duel between the two became the focus of the table tennis world at that time.
Li Xiaoxia repeatedly failed in the contest with Ding Ning and fell into a vicious circle.
But instead of giving up on her, Coach Lee stimulated her by letting her watch the video of the game and helped her figure out what was wrong.
A change of mindset after a quarrel with an Olympic title
An unexpected quarrel became a turning point in Li Xiaoxia's mentality.
In that moment, she let go of the pressure she had been under for a long time and began to face the game with a more peaceful mind.
Finally, at the 2012 Olympic Games, Li Xiaoxia successfully won the women's singles championship with her excellent performance and stable mentality.
At this moment, she not only proved her strength, but also proved her worth.
A new chapter after retirement
After winning the championship, Li Xiaoxia became the captain of the team, her mentality was more peaceful, and her relationship with Ding Ning became more and more harmonious.
In 2016, Li Xiaoxia announced her retirement, but she did not leave the world of table tennis.
She chose to get married, continue to contribute to the country, and joined the ITTF for a new job.
Her story tells us that even after retiring, she continued to influence the sport of table tennis in her own way.
From table tennis to volunteering: Li Xiaoxia's multifaceted life
This year, Li Xiaoxia not only became a mother of a second child, but also ushered in two lovely daughters, "Little Cherry" and "Little Maruko"!
Doesn't she feel like her life has become sweeter?
In the past few years, she has been at home with her husband and children, and she has done her best to take care of her two babies.
However, she is not a woman bound by family!
It wasn't until 2022 that she was exposed by everyone as a volunteer!
That's right, it was the female player who used to be stormy on the court, and now she is silently dedicating her love and strength.
As a member of the ITTF World Group, she has embarked on a new identity and mission to contribute to society!
There's one thing you might not know, though.
Li Xiaoxia's daughter fully supports her as a volunteer!
Whenever she goes out, her daughter reminds her to be careful.
This kind of support and encouragement undoubtedly gave Li Xiaoxia more courage and motivation, and made her more determined to walk on the road of volunteering.
Think about it, from a top athlete to a responsible mother, to a silently dedicated volunteer and ITTF member, Li Xiaoxia's life has undergone earth-shaking changes!
This kind of multi-faceted and tenacious has to be admired!
Perhaps, you will feel that Li Xiaoxia's fame is not as loud as other national table tennis players,
However, her efforts and achievements have left a deep impression on the hearts of many people.
Like an inconspicuous little star, although it may not be as dazzling as the bright sun, its light can warm people's hearts and illuminate the way forward!