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The Olympic Games have always been a grand event in the sports world, and it is also a competition field for the strength of various countries. On this stage, sometimes it is not only a contest of strength, but also a test of character. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a swimming competition caused a storm that forced us to rethink: what is a real champion? There is a France boy named Marchand at this Olympics, who is simply a "dragon in the water". The 22-year-old talented swimmer, who has won four gold medals in just a few days, is one of the brightest rising stars of the Games. At the same time as he was working miracles, a small act caused an uproar.
In the men's 200m individual medley final, Marchand won the gold medal with an astonishing speed, and also broke the Olympic record held by Phelps "Flying Fish" by the way. This achievement made the audience boil, and even France President Macron couldn't help but give a standing ovation. However, in the midst of this cheer, an embarrassing scene quietly happened.
Zhu Zhigen, the meritorious coach of the Chinese swimming team, walked to Marchand with a smile on his face, ready to shake hands with the new Olympic champion to congratulate him. Who knew that Marchand acted as if he hadn't seen it, and directly ignored Coach Zhu's outstretched hand. This scene, which was clearly captured by the on-site camera, quickly sparked heated discussions on the Internet.
Zhu Zhigen is not an ordinary person. He is a legendary coach in the Chinese swimming world, who has single-handedly cultivated world-class athletes like Sun Yang. Such a highly respected coach was actually given a "cold reception" under the watchful eye, which made many Chinese viewers feel both embarrassed and angry.
Some people say that this is a public "dismount" by Marchand against the Chinese swimming team. Some people also speculate that this may be related to Pan Zhanle's revelation of Marchand's "high coldness" before. Either way, this little episode undoubtedly cast a shadow over Marchand's flawless performance.
Marchand's rise is truly amazing. At this Olympics, he has already won gold medals in the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley. What's even more astonishing is that he also beat China's two world champions, Qin Haiyang and Dong Zhihao, in the 200m breaststroke. In this 200-meter medley final, he defeated China's three world champions in a row, and he was simply invincible in the pool.
Achievements are important, but sportsmanship and personal character are also essential. Marchand's performance is reminiscent of another swimming legend - United States "Flying Fish" Phelps. Phelps not only created a myth in Olympic history with 28 Olympic medals (including 23 golds), but also influenced countless people with his humble attitude and positive spirit.
As a new generation of swimming stars, should Marchand learn from Phelps? Invincible on the field is admirable, but how to remain humble when you win and show grace when you lose may be the qualities that a true champion should have.
This turmoil has sparked widespread discussion, and netizens have a variety of opinions on this matter. Someone said: "If you don't play well, no wonder people are suspicious of your previous achievements, and you have to be hard in iron!" This sounds a bit poignant, but it makes sense. After all, in competitive sports, performance is the most powerful proof of this.
Some netizens thought: "Why do you want to shake hands with him, it is foreseeable that he will perform like this, the swimming team will face such a situation for a long time in the future, and be ready to fight at any time!" It's an interesting point of view, and it elevates the sporting game to the level of a kind of "battle". Indeed, in the international arena, every contest is not only a matter of personal honor, but also a matter of national dignity.
Even more bluntly said: "Self-affection will be humiliated, self-improvement, self-proof of innocence can win respect." That's a real point! In this world of survival of the fittest, only by constantly improving oneself and speaking with strength can we win the respect of others. There are also some netizens who questioned Marchand. So far, Marchand has not been tested for doping. If this statement is true, it is a bit intriguing. In modern sports, doping testing is commonplace. The fact that an athlete can perform at a high level and never be tested does have to evoke some associations.
Speaking of contraband, it is a big taboo in the world of sports. History is full of athletes who have been ruined by contraband scandals. For example, Canada sprinter Ben · Johnson, who won the 100-meter championship in Seoul in 1988 with an astonishing time of 9.79 seconds, was found to have used contraband after the race, and was not only stripped of his gold medal but also banned for life. The case is still used as a cautionary tale in the world of sports.
Returning to Marchand, although there is no conclusive evidence that he used illegal drugs, this suspicion has undoubtedly cast a shadow over his brilliant achievements. In the world of sports, an athlete's reputation is often as important as his achievements. If Marchand is really innocent, then taking the initiative to undergo a full test may be the best way to clarify himself.
Having said that, Marchand's "ignoring the handshake" incident actually reflects a bigger question: are we neglecting the cultivation of sportsmanship while pursuing excellence? You know, the Olympic spirit emphasizes not only "faster, higher, stronger", but also "more together". Mutual respect and friendly exchanges between athletes should be the proper meaning of the Olympic Games.
If Marchand had politely responded to Coach Zhu's kindness, the episode might have been a heartwarming highlight rather than a trigger for controversy. Winning or losing in competitive sports is important, but sportsmanship is also essential.
There is no shortage of athletes in history who have demonstrated noble character on the field. For example, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, New Zealand athlete Nikki · Hamblin took the initiative to stop in the women's 5000m preliminaries and helped the fallen United States athlete Darby De Agustino ·. While the move cost Hamblin the chance to qualify for the finals, her sportsmanship earned praise around the world.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when China's Liu Xiang retired due to injury, his opponent, Cuba's Robles, took the initiative to comfort him, a scene that has become a classic in Olympic history. A true champion must not only have extraordinary strength, but also noble character.
In the face of a "new star" like Marchand, how should we look at it? After all, he's still young, and he probably doesn't know how to deal with sudden success and attention. Perhaps this is an opportunity for him to grow.
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