Tokyo, 7 Aug (Xinhua) -- Title: Years Do Not Live In Veterans Evergreen -- Taking Stock of the Top Ten Veterans of the Tokyo Olympic Games
Xinhua News Agency reporters Tan Chang, Xia Liang and Mao Pengfei
From the fledgling, to the mainstay, and finally to the needle of the sea god, the Olympic arena witnessed their growth. They have fought at least three Olympic games, fought hard in the highest hall of human competitive sports, broken through themselves, and let the Olympic spirit shine brightly.
Combining the number of athletes participating in the Olympic Games, competition results, influence in China and other factors, the reporter selected the top ten veterans of the Tokyo Olympic Games (sorted by age).
1. Huang Xuechen (31 years old, Chinese synchronized swimmer)
4 Olympic Games, 7 Olympic medals, this is Huang Xuechen's Olympic report card. At one point, she retired from the army, got married and had children, and lost 60 pounds in order to return to the pool. At the Tokyo Aquatic Center, 31-year-old Huang Xuechen won two silver medals again in the double and group events, matching the best performance in the history of Chinese flower tourism at the Rio Olympics. "Mother Player" Huang Xuechen is worthy of being the first person in China's flower tour.
China's Huang Xuechen and Sun Wenyan in the tokyo Olympics synchronized swimming doubles free final on August 4. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xia Fang
2. Gong Lijiao (32 years old, Chinese track and field athlete)
In the first three Olympic Games, Gong Lijiao failed to stand on the podium. Although she won the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games and the silver medal in the London Olympic Games because of the other athletes' involvement in drugs, it was difficult to make up for the regret of not being able to witness the raising of the national flag. At the Tokyo Olympics, Gong Lijiao used the strong performance of "ten seconds to clock out of work" and "consecutive PB (personal best) in the final" to realize the dream of the shot put field and let the five-star red flag fly high in the New National Stadium in Tokyo.
On August 1, Gong Lijiao was at the award ceremony. Photo by Ju Huanzong, Xinhua News Agency
3. Su Bingtian (31 years old, Chinese track and field athlete)
The appearance of Su Bingtian has given Chinese audiences the idea of "100-meter sprint delisting", which was not dared to have in the past. London and Rio have reached the semi-finals consecutively, and "Sushin" has achieved another good result in Tokyo. The semi-finals set a new Asian record in 9.83 seconds, becoming the first Chinese to stand on the Olympic men's 100m final track. In the final, he braved the strong enemy and continued to run a good time of 9.98 seconds, ranking sixth. In the 4×100m relay, the Chinese team led by Su Bingtian ran 37.79 seconds in the final, ranking fourth and equaling the national record.
On August 1, Su Bingtian was after the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Xiaowei
4. Ma Long (32 years old, Chinese table tennis player)
The Tokyo Olympics became a stage for Malone to constantly refresh his history. Defeating world number one Fan Zhendong to win the men's singles gold medal, Ma Long became the first person to defend the men's singles title in the history of Olympic table tennis. The Chinese team defeated germany in three straight sets to win the gold medal in the men's team of table tennis, and Ma Long successfully unlocked the Olympic hard gold and became the player with the most world championship titles in the history of table tennis (26 crowns). Liu Guoliangzan, chairman of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, said: "He has not only done what he himself asked for, but also fulfilled what everyone asked for and dreamed of, and has never disappointed." He is an active role model and a sporting asset, and he gets more than just gold medals and results. ”
On August 6, China's Ma Long celebrated after defeating Germany's Bohr. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi
5. Wu Jingyu (34 years old, Chinese taekwondo athlete)
She is the first female athlete in the history of taekwondo in the history of the world to participate in four consecutive Olympic Games, became famous and won gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, redoubled her efforts and successfully defended her title at the 2012 London Olympics, and missed the final four of the Rio Olympics in 2016. Wu Jingyu, who came back after giving birth, played again at the Olympics at the age of 34, and although she regretted stopping the resurrection in Tokyo, she smiled and said that the Olympic Games gave her a lifetime of wealth, regardless of others, only about challenging herself. IOC President Bach said: "Wu Jingyu is a great athlete and an excellent mother. ”
China's Wu Jingyu (right) competes with refugee team Dina on July 24. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
6. Pang Wei (35 years old, Chinese shooter)
Pang Wei became famous at a young age, winning gold at the Beijing Olympics at the age of 22, but neither of the two Olympic Games has stood on the top podium since then. At the Tokyo Olympics, Pang Wei first won the bronze medal in the men's 10-meter air pistol, and then won the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event with his "big niece" Jiang Ranxin, who was 14 years younger than himself. As for whether to continue to compete in the Olympic Games in the future, Pang Wei did not give a positive answer, but said: "Let's go for a while." ”
On July 24, China's Pang Wei at the award ceremony. Photo by Ju Huanzong, Xinhua News Agency
7. Alisson Felix (35, American track and field athlete)
5 Olympic Games, 11 medals, this is Felix's answer sheet in the Olympic athletics field. On the evening of the 7th, after winning gold in the women's 4×400-meter relay at the Tokyo Olympics, the "mom runner" surpassed the legendary Carl Lewis and became the track and field athlete who won the most Olympic medals in American history. "I want my successors to see a different side (of women), which requires us to push ourselves forward and fight for ourselves!" Felix said.
U.S. team member Alisson Felix in the women's 4x400m relay final on Aug. 7.
8. Lv Xiaojun (37 years old, Chinese weightlifter)
Lv Xiaojun, a 37-year-old veteran who participated in the Olympic Games for the third time, defeated a group of 20-year-old fierce generals and won the gold medal in the men's 81 kg category of the Tokyo Olympic Games with absolute strength and tactical wisdom, winning the second Olympic gold medal in his life and becoming the oldest Olympic champion in weightlifting at the time of winning the championship. The Chinese team shouted in the audience: "Lu Xiaojun, forever God!" Lu Xiaojun said: "Maybe this competition is not my last, next year's World Championships, if you see me, (then) you will definitely see me at the Paris Olympics." "See you in Paris!
On July 31, Lü Xiaojun celebrated after winning the championship. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Lei
9. Luis Scola (41, Argentine basketball player)
In the quarterfinals of the men's basketball team at the Tokyo Olympics, Argentina lost to Australia. In the last 50 seconds of the game, when Scola was replaced early, the Australian men's basketball team stopped the game and the audience applauded him for three minutes. This is Scola's fifth Trip to the Olympics and the closing battle for his national team. He has stood on the highest Podium of the Olympic Games and has tasted defeat. There will never be a Scola at the Olympics again, but the story of the "diamond" will live on forever.
On August 3, Scola, the argentine player who was replaced, greeted everyone. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Meng Yongmin
10. Oksana Chusovykina (46 years old, Uzbekistan gymnast)
"You are not cured, I dare not grow old." From competing as a CIS athlete in 1992, to representing Uzbekistan, then changing to German citizenship because of his son's illness, and finally restoring Uzbekistan nationality, the story of Chusovkina's eight Olympic Games is legendary. Despite the final qualifying round, the stadium without spectators paid tribute to the great athlete who spent his life interpreting the Olympic spirit with thunderous applause.
On July 25, Chusovkina burst into tears after the match. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cao Can
In addition to the above veterans, the Tokyo Olympic Games also emerged Dong Dong, Liu Hong, Li Zhenqiang, Ni Xialian, Gasol, Mata and other veterans, who are also the pride and role models of their host countries. Hats off to all the old faces who fought hard in the Olympic Arena!