The arena where passion burns, the barracks where heroes are numerous
In the scorching summer of Paris, thrilling Olympic events are being staged.
On the land of the motherland, we ushered in the glorious moment of the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Two seemingly unrelated events, but they meet perfectly in several special athletes, composing a touching patriotic hymn.
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As the saying goes, "One will make ten thousand bones dry." "Athletes and soldiers are warriors who fight their respective battlefields.
They watered their dreams with sweat, conquered difficulties with their will, and won glory for the motherland with their strength.
When the spirit of military spirit and sportsmanship are combined, what kind of amazing power will burst out? Let's walk into the stories of several military athletes and feel their charm!
Fan Zhendong: "Little Fat" in the table tennis world, a tough guy in the army
Speaking of Fan Zhendong, many people's first impression may be his mellow body and honest smile.
However, in the men's singles semifinals of table tennis at the Paris Olympics on August 1, we saw a fighter who was determined and never gave up.
Fan Zhendong, 27 years old, still looks like a big boy, but his experience is far more colorful than his peers.
He joined the Bayi team at the age of 11, entered the national team at the age of 16, and became a world champion at the age of 19, creating a record for the youngest world champion in Chinese men's table tennis.
Behind these halos is Fan Zhendong's hard training day after day and never-ending self-breakthrough.
In this contest with Japan's Tomokazu Zhangmoto, Fan Zhendong fell into a 0:2 dilemma at the beginning.
In the face of an aggressive opponent, Fan Zhendong did not retreat, but relied on the tenacity of a soldier to fight back point by point.
As the CCTV commentator said: "When it comes to this time, it is not the technology that is compared, but a person's character, courage, and blood." "
In the end, Fan Zhendong won with a score of 4:3, interpreting the military spirit of "not abandoning and not giving up" with practical actions.
This victory not only allowed him to advance to the finals, but also presented a special gift for Army Day.
Fan Zhendong's military career was equally exciting.
At the 2019 Wuhan World Military Games, he won four gold medals in one fell swoop and won glory for the country.
This outstanding contribution earned him the rank of second lieutenant and the honor of first class merit at the age of 22.
From the table tennis table to the barracks, Fan Zhendong interprets what is the military style of the new era in his own way.
Yang Jiayu: Race walking women, iron-blooded tenderness
If Fan Zhendong is the "little fat" on the field, then Yang Jiayu is the "Iron Lady" in the race walking world.
In the women's 20km race walk on August 1, Yang Jiayu added a strong touch to the Army Day with a hearty victory.
Race walking is known as one of the toughest events in the Olympic Games.
With a 20-kilometer race and a 40-degree heat, every step is an extreme challenge of willpower.
However, Yang Jiayu was like a sophisticated machine, holding the lead from the 5th km onwards, and by the 7km he was a full lap ahead of the last place.
This overwhelming advantage can't help but remind people of her military career.
As a retired soldier, Yang Jiayu served in the army with the rank of second lieutenant.
At the 2019 World Military Games, at the age of 23, she won the championship of the women's 20km race walk event and won the national second-class merit.
From the barracks to the arena, Yang Jiayu has always maintained a momentum of "not admitting defeat".
At the Paris Olympics, Yang Jiayu not only won the 11th gold medal for the Chinese delegation, but also achieved the grand slam of the military, second, Olympic and world championship holders.
This achievement is enough for her to leave a strong mark in the history of Chinese sports.
Yang Jiayu's story tells us that the temperament of a soldier is not only reflected in strength, but also in the persistence of never giving up.
Whether it is on the training ground under the scorching sun or on the high-profile field, she interprets the responsibility and glory of soldiers in her own way.
Lin Dan: "Super Dan" in the feather world, "Lieutenant Colonel" in the army
Speaking of military athletes in Chinese sports, we can't fail to mention the "Super Dan" Lin Dan.
This legend in the world of badminton is not only invincible on the court, but also in his military career.
Lin Dan's badminton career is legendary.
Since he ascended to the No. 1 throne of the International Badminton Federation in 2002, he has started his own road to "hegemony".
In his career of more than 20 years, Lin Dan has achieved the "Double Circle Grand Slam" and has become a well-deserved "No. 1 Chinese badminton".
His many peak duels with Lee Chong Wei have become classic battles in the badminton world.
However, what is less known is that Lin Dan was also a soldier.
He served in the Bayi Engineer Corps and held at least the rank of lieutenant colonel.
This identity has added a different color to Lin Dan's legendary life.
Lin Dan's success is not only due to his talent, but also from the strict self-discipline and perseverance of a soldier.
Whether it was sweating on the training ground or fighting tenaciously in the game, Lin Dan showed the demeanor of a soldier.
He proved with his actions that the spirit of the military and the spirit of sportsmanship can be perfectly combined.
Liu Guoliang: "Fat man who doesn't know how to play" in table tennis, "colonel" in the army
Speaking of Chinese table tennis, we have to mention the name Liu Guoliang.
The coach, affectionately known by fans as "the fat man who doesn't know how to play", is actually a soldier with a high rank.
Liu Guoliang's table tennis career can be said to be a legend within legends.
From the age of six to the 11 years he played for the national team, he won 9 national championships, 9 Asian championships, 19 open championships and 11 world championships for China.
After retiring, he transformed into a coach, and has cultivated 14 world champions, including Ma Long, Xu Xin, Fan Zhendong and other pillars of today's Chinese table tennis.
However, what is unexpected is that this amiable-looking instructor turned out to be a soldier who has served for 30 years and also has the rank of colonel.
This identity makes Liu Guoliang's image more three-dimensional and plump.
Liu Guoliang's success lies not only in his superb ball skills and coaching skills, but also in his integration of military discipline and tenacity into the table tennis career.
He proved with his actions that the military spirit can shine in all fields.
The stories of these military athletes allow us to see the perfect combination of military spirit and sportsmanship.
Their hard work on the field not only represents personal honor, but also carries the hope of the country and the expectations of the people.
From Fan Zhendong's tenacious struggle to Yang Jiayu's overwhelming victory; From Lin Dan's badminton hegemony to Liu Guoliang's coaching legend, every story tells the extraordinary charm of military athletes.
In their own way, they interpret what responsibility is, what is responsibility, and what is to win glory for the country.
On this special day, these military athletes presented the best gifts to the motherland in their own way.
Their stories are not only the best tribute to Army Day, but also the driving force that inspires every Chinese to keep moving forward.
[I have to say]
Soldiers and athletes seem to be two different groups, but they share the same spiritual core - to win glory for the country and never give up.
from Fan Zhendong's reversal victory to Yang Jiayu's sweep of the whole court; From Lin Dan's badminton legend to Liu Guoliang's coaching style, what we see is not only personal achievements, but also a spiritual inheritance.
This spirit is the backbone of our nation and the driving force for our country's progress.
It tells us that no matter where we are, no matter what difficulties we face, as long as we have the motherland in our hearts, we can burst out with infinite strength.
Let us pay tribute to these military athletes, and let us join hands to contribute to the prosperity of the motherland!