From gymnastics champion to busker: Zhang Shangwu's life has been up and down
Have you ever heard of Zhang Shangwu? The former champion of gymnastics is now begging on the streets of Beijing. In 2020, someone bumped into the 37-year-old former gymnastics star on the streets of Beijing. Unkempt and ragged, he performs gymnastic moves at the subway entrance in exchange for handouts from passers-by. This scene makes people sigh: how did the former sports heroes fall to this?
# Glory and Fall: From Champion to Prisoner
Zhang Shangwu entered the sports school at the age of 5 and has been a gymnastics genius since he was a child. At the age of 12, he accidentally ruptured his Achilles tendon while training, but stubbornly survived. In 2002, at the age of 19, he suffered another Achilles tendon rupture, this time completely ruining his gymnastics career.
After recuperating from his injury for a year, Zhang Shangwu returned to the provincial team, but fell out with the coach. He applied to leave the team and wanted to go to the sports institute, but was rejected. Zhang Shangwu said that it was because he did not give gifts to the coach, but the official statement is that he violated discipline many times. It's no longer clear who is right and who is wrong.
In March 2007, Zhang Shangwu ran away from home and went to Beijing. Who knew that within a few months, he entered the bureau for stealing things, and was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months. Hey, how can a gymnastics champion be reduced to being a thief? There must be something hidden here.
# Bugging: Former champions become beggars
After being released from prison, Zhang Shangwu ran away from home again. It wasn't until 2020 that he was spotted begging on the streets of Beijing. The 37-year-old is unkempt and poorly clothed, and he performs gymnastics in exchange for change from passers-by.
Seeing this scene, my heart is mixed. A champion who once dominated the arena has now become a street beggar, what has happened in between? Is it really just because he doesn't fight for himself?
Some media reported that Zhang Shangwu received a retirement fee of 63,000 yuan when he retired. This money may seem like a lot, but is it really enough for a retired athlete who only has a second-year junior high school education? If you don't have a skill, what should you do if you run out of money?
# The Other Side of Sports Stars: Confusion and Struggle After Retiring
Zhang's case is not an isolated case. Many retired athletes face similar dilemmas: low literacy, poor social adaptability, and lack of professional skills. They have been in sports schools since they were young, training for competitions all day, and have no time to learn anything else. When I retired, I suddenly found that I didn't know anything and could only do manual work.
It has been said that athletes should plan for the future after retirement. But the question is, how can they have this awareness? From childhood to adulthood, the coach arranged to do whatever he did, where did he learn how to plan his life? Besides, it's not enough to be conscious, you also need to have the ability and resources.
I've heard that some countries provide vocational training and employment guidance to retired athletes. Is there such a service in our country? If so, why didn't Zhang Shangwu enjoy it? Was he unwilling to accept it, or was no one telling him about it at all?
# Loopholes in the sports talent training system
Zhang Shangwu's experience has exposed some problems in the mainland's sports talent training system. We focus too much on developing champions and neglect the all-round development of athletes.
For example, Zhang Shangwu only has the education level of the second grade of junior high school, how can this work? I couldn't even find a decent job after retiring. Also, why didn't he go to the gymnasium? Even if you don't get good grades, you should give it a chance, right?
In my opinion, the sports department should pay attention to the cultural learning and career planning of athletes. You can't just think about winning the gold medal, you have to think about the future of the athletes. Otherwise, it would be too sad if there were a few more Zhang Shangwu in the future.
# Society's Attitudes: Sympathy or Blame?
Mr. Zhang's plight has sparked heated discussions on the Internet. Some sympathized with him and considered him a victim of the system; Some people also accused him of not wanting to make progress and being willing to degenerate.
I don't think this can simply be blamed on a person or an organization. It reflects the attitude of society as a whole towards retired athletes. Are we focusing only on the successful star athletes and ignoring the plight of most retired athletes who are unknown?
What can we do for them as ordinary people? Perhaps, the next time we see someone like Zhang Shangwu on the street, we can give them more money or help them connect with some social assistance agencies. After all, they have given their youth and sweat for the honor of their country, and now it is our turn to do something for them.
Zhang Shangwu's story is embarrassing. From gymnastics champion to busker, his life experience is like a tragic movie. This makes people wonder: how should our sports career develop? How can more athletes find a new direction in life after retirement? These questions deserve deep thought by each of us.