In the glorious history of the Chinese women's volleyball team, Zhao Ruirui's name shines with her outstanding height and outstanding performance on the court.
With a height of nearly two meters, she is like an insurmountable mountain in the volleyball world, giving her opponents a great sense of oppression, and at the same time winning countless glory for the Chinese women's volleyball team.
Before retiring in 2009, Zhao Ruirui's legacy at the 2004 Olympics was particularly unforgettable. That year, she was unable to give it her all due to a recurrence of injuries and could only watch what should have been her peak match end with her biggest regret.
Time flies, and after retiring, Zhao Ruirui turned her energy to the field of literature and art. During her time in service, she was a giant on the field, but off the field she was confined to unattainable standards for mate selection, and she was still single until the age of 43.
The trajectory of the giants
In 1999, Zhao Ruirui, who was only 18 years old, was selected for the Bayi women's volleyball team, when she was just an adult girl, but she was already regarded as a shining star in the team. In her four-year training career, she has grown from a volleyball enthusiast to a national team hope, her speed is amazing, her jumping power is amazing, and even more amazing is her smash height that can almost reach the basketball hoop.
In 2001, the Chinese women's volleyball team ushered in a coach change. The newly appointed coach Chen Zhonghe has high expectations for Zhao Ruirui and decided to let her show her skills in the upcoming Asian Championships. However, that summer, Zhao's athletic career faced unprecedented challenges. During a training session, she slipped and fell and injured her knee meniscus. The injury almost brought her volleyball career to a halt.
When Zhao Ruirui's parents learned of their daughter's injury, they hurried from Nanjing to Beijing. Faced with their daughter's injury, they decided to take her back to Nanjing for professional rehabilitation. In Nanjing, Zhao Ruirui's rehabilitation training was extremely hard, and she spent almost every day in pain and sweat.
After months of hard work, Zhao Ruirui's injuries have improved significantly. She returned to the team with an unhealed injury, determined to prove herself at the Asian Championships. In the pre-match training, Zhao Ruirui's performance gradually returned to the level before the injury, and even surpassed. The coaching staff was amazed at how quickly she recovered, but also excited about her form.
The match day of the Asian Championships finally arrived, and Zhao Ruirui made her debut. Although her legs were still heavily bandaged, her performance on the court was unaffected. Her every smash is full of power and determination, and every block shows her unrivaled height advantage. In the game, Zhao Ruirui helped the Chinese team all the way through, and finally won the championship and won the honor of Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Despite Zhao's excellent performance in the game, she did not fully recover from her injury. She often needed ice and physical therapy after the competition to relieve the pain in her knees. Her coaches and teammates alike admired her tenacity and courage, but were also concerned about her future health.
In 2003, Zhao Ruirui continued to represent the national team in competitions. Her knee condition has improved, but she still needs regular treatment and maintenance. Despite this, Zhao Ruirui's skills are more mature and stable. In this year's World Cup, she once again became the team's leading scorer and helped the Chinese team win the world championship.
The 2004 Athens Olympics was an important turning point in Zhao Ruirui's career. She has become the core player of the Chinese women's volleyball team and the spiritual pillar of the whole team. However, during a training session, Zhao Ruirui accidentally injured again, and she suffered a severe sprain in her right ankle. The injury prevented her from participating in the rest of the game, and she could only watch her teammates fight in silence from the audience.
The weight of the champion
In 2005, Zhao Ruirui underwent an operation to remove the steel plate that had been implanted during the treatment of the injury. The success of the surgery gave her the courage and strength to get back on the field, but it also meant she needed to start her grueling rehab again.
In Beijing, Zhao Ruirui participated in a complex and rigorous rehabilitation program. She conducts strength and flexibility training every day under the guidance of a physical therapist. The gymnasium has become her second home, and the sweat of every day can almost water this moment of hard work. Despite the slow progress, Zhao Ruirui has never complained.
In 2007, her form gradually picked up and she was again selected for the national team. In the Asian Cup women's volleyball match, Zhao Ruirui led the Chinese team all the way through and finally stood on the field of the final. On the day of the game, the atmosphere in the stadium was tense and enthusiastic, with the shouts and cheers of the spectators almost lifting the roof.
Zhao Ruirui showed unprecedented tenacity and determination in the competition. Every time she jumped up and smashed the ball, she was like a brave lion, breaking through the opponent's defense. Every point she scored added to the Chinese team's hopes of victory.
In the end, after a tense rush for points, the Chinese team won the game by a narrow margin, and Zhao Ruirui also won the honor of MVP of the event.
After winning the Asian Cup, Zhao Ruirui's name was once again widely reported by all sports media. Her story has inspired countless young volleyball players, and her perseverance and courage have become a light in their hearts. However, as the Beijing Olympics approach, the pressure on Zhao Ruirui is also increasing.
In 2008, the Beijing Olympics are getting closer and closer, and the eyes of the whole country are focused on the upcoming world-class event. The Chinese women's volleyball team, as the host, bears huge expectations. As a key member of the team, Zhao Ruirui felt unprecedented pressure.
In the months leading up to the Olympics, Zhao Ruirui and her teammates conducted intensive training in Chenzhou. On the training ground, they repeatedly practiced tactics and coordination, and every move was made with precision and efficiency. The coaching staff has made countless adjustments and refinements to every detail, hoping to show the best in the Olympic arena.
During the Olympic Games, Zhao Ruirui's performance was still excellent, helping the team go all the way through the group stage. However, in the semi-finals, the Chinese team faced a huge challenge against the skilled Brazilian team. The game was extremely intense, and the two sides fought to the set point many times. In the end, in a crucial round, although Zhao Ruirui struggled to dunk the ball, the ball was successfully blocked by the opponent, and the Chinese team finally failed to advance to the final.
The defeat was a huge blow for Zhao, and although her individual performance in the tournament was still considered top-notch, the fact that the team failed to make it to the final weighed heavily on her. compare
After the Olympics, Zhao Ruirui once again faced the choice of retirement.
The double pressure of age and injuries has forced her to think about the way forward. After many discussions with her coach and family, she finally decided to officially retire in 2009.
At the retirement ceremony, Zhao Ruirui wore the uniform of the national team and thanked the thousands of spectators in the stadium. Her retirement was not only the end of her career, but also the end of an era. The applause in the stadium was thunderous, and every audience was sending their final tribute to the superstar of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
A new chapter
After retiring from football, she decided to translate her experience and love of volleyball into a new format and began her career as a writer and drawing.
In the months following her retirement, Zhao was busy publishing her first book. She devotes a lot of time and energy to meeting with editors and publishers to discuss the layout, content, and design of the book. In the book, she combines her own sports career to present readers with the growth, challenges and victories of an athlete. She draws her own illustrations, and each piece contains her deep affection for volleyball and admiration for competitive sports.
Her book was eventually published in 2010 and quickly became a bestseller. Readers were not only captivated by her heroism on the pitch, but also by the artistic talent and tenacity she displayed after changing tracks.
After the success of the book, Zhao Ruirui did not stop her creative pace. She began experimenting with more art forms, including drawing and comic creation. In 2012, she launched her first comic book, a story that combines fantasy elements and tells the story of a young girl who taps into her inner strength and courage in the face of difficulties and challenges.
In addition to artistic creation, Zhao Ruirui is also actively involved in public welfare and sports education promotion. She often gives lectures at schools and sports clubs, sharing her experiences and love of sports and inspiring young people to pursue their dreams. Her story and success stories have been a source of inspiration for many young athletes and artistic creators.
With the passage of time, Zhao Ruirui's position in the literary and artistic circles has become increasingly solid. In 2016, another of her works was published, which blends elements of suspense and psychological exploration, showing the depth and breadth of her literary practice. Not only did her work have a large readership in China, but she also began to gain international recognition.
Although Zhao Ruirui's artistic career has flourished, she has never been far from the world of sports. She regularly appears at various sporting events and TV shows, as a commentator and guest, using her extensive experience and unique insights to analyze the game. In addition, she worked as a physical education consultant for a university in Beijing, helping to develop a new generation of sports coaches and managers.
In her private life, Zhao has kept a low profile, but her success and versatility have put her in the public spotlight. Despite constant media attention and public expectations, Zhao Ruirui has always adhered to her own lifestyle and choices, maintaining her personal independence and self-worth.
Resources:
LI Longtao. Zhao Ruirui:From glass beauty to the best smasher[J].Juvenile Digest,2004(10):42-46
CAI Peiying. The story of Zhao Ruirui, the national player of the Chinese women's volleyball team[J].New Sports,2002(05):30-31