On August 4, 2024, in the men's singles final of table tennis at the Paris Olympics, Fan Zhendong defeated his opponent with a score of 4:2, adding another gold medal to the Chinese team.
On the sidelines, head coach Wang Hao jumped up excitedly and hugged his beloved apprentice tightly.
At this moment, Wang Hao seemed to see himself 20 years ago, and finally completed this haunting dream of being an Olympic champion.
The moment Fan Zhendong won the championship, the audience was boiling.
In Hall 4 of the South Paris Arena, Chinese fans waved five-star red flags, and the cheers were deafening.
The France crowd was also impressed by this wonderful match and gave a standing ovation.
Fan Zhendong knelt down and kissed the table, tears flowing freely on his face.
He waved to the audience, and then ran to Wang Hao on the sidelines.
The master and apprentice hugged each other tightly, as if they wanted to melt all the sweat and tears of the past 20 years into this hug.
Wang Hao patted Fan Zhendong on the back and was speechless with excitement.
At this moment, he finally let go of the label of the second thousand-year-old who had been pressing on his heart for many years.
Some netizens commented: The moment I saw Wang Hao and Fan Zhendong hugging each other and crying, I couldn't help but cry.
This is not just the birth of an Olympic champion, but also the continuation of a legend.
Wang Hao used his own experience and wisdom to help Fan Zhendong realize his unfulfilled dream.
This kind of master-apprentice inheritance and spiritual transmission is the real secret weapon of Chinese table tennis.
Wang Hao proved with his actions that failure is not the end, but the only way to success.
He turned his regrets into motivation for younger generations, and this spirit is worth learning from each of us.
Looking back on Wang Hao's Olympic journey, it can be described as ups and downs and full of drama.
In the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, 20-year-old Wang Hao was a fledgling and went all the way to the finals.
In the final, he met his biggest rival of his career, Korea's Yoo Seung-min.
At that time, Wang Hao was still too young and inexperienced, and finally lost 3:4 and won the silver medal.
This defeat did not defeat Wang Hao, but inspired him to have a stronger fighting spirit.
He sucked up technology like a sponge, trained hard, and quickly became the number one in the world.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Wang Hao played as the world's No. 1 and was in full swing.
Fate always seemed to play a joke on him.
In the semi-finals, he met compatriot Marlene.
The two fought for seven rounds, and Wang Hao lost with a small score of 3:4 and once again missed the gold medal.
A netizen commented: Wang Hao's Olympic road is simply an inspirational blockbuster.
Every defeat was heartbreaking, but every time he was able to get back on his feet.
His experience tells us that success is not achieved overnight, but requires continuous effort and the spirit of never giving up.
Wang Hao used his own actions to interpret the saying that failure is the mother of success.
His story is not only about table tennis, but also about life.
No matter how many setbacks we encounter, as long as we maintain a positive attitude, we will definitely win our own gold medal in the arena of life.
The 2012 London Olympics was the last time Wang Hao participated in the Olympic Games as an athlete.
This time, he reached the final again, and his opponent was compatriot Zhang Jike.
The game was extremely intense, and every ball touched the hearts of the national audience.
In the end, Wang Hao still lost 2:4 and won the silver medal for the third time.
After the game, the emotional Wang Hao announced his retirement, ending his brilliant career as an athlete.
Wang Hao did not leave his beloved table tennis career.
He quickly transitioned into a coach, passing on his experience and wisdom to the younger generation.
He pays special attention to the psychological coaching of players, because he knows that at a high level, mental quality is often more important than technical skills.
Some netizens commented on Wang Hao's transformation: Wang Hao's transformation from an athlete to a coach can be called a textbook-level career plan.
Instead of dwelling on the regrets of the past, he chose to transform his experience into a wealth for future generations.
This attitude is worth learning from everyone.
In the arena of life, we may encounter setbacks and failures, but the important thing is how to learn from the failures and make ourselves stronger.
Wang Hao told us with practical actions that there is no road in vain in life, and every step is to make ourselves better.
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Wang Hao will lead the team as the head coach.
In the quarterfinals, Fan Zhendong met a strong opponent, Tomokazu Zhangmoto.
At the beginning of the game, Fan Zhendong seemed to be a little nervous, losing two games in a row and falling behind 0:2.
At this time, Wang Hao called a timeout.
He walked to the sidelines, patted Fan Zhendong lightly on the shoulder, and said: Don't be nervous, relax and play your own ball.
Remember, when the game is not over, there is always a chance.
These words seemed to open Fan Zhendong's heart knot, and he gradually got better, winning three games in a row, and finally won 4:2.
After the game, Fan Zhendong said excitedly: The coach's words gave me a lot of confidence.
I know he's been through tougher moments, and if he's going to get through it, I'm going to be able to.
Some netizens commented: The master-apprentice relationship between Wang Hao and Fan Zhendong is really moving.
Wang Hao shared his experience and lessons, and Fan Zhendong did not live up to the coach's expectations.
This inheritance is not only technical, but also spiritual.
Wang Hao used his own experience to tell us that failure is not terrible, but what is terrible is losing the courage to fight again.
With his actions, he proved that even if he can't make it to the top podium in person, he can realize his dream by nurturing the next generation.
This kind of realm is the real gold medal.
Now, standing on the field of the Paris Olympic Games, Wang Hao looks back on his Olympic experience and is full of emotion.
He said: "Every Olympic Games has given me a different feeling.
The immaturity and pressure in 2004, the expectations and burdens in 2008, and the unwillingness and relief in 2012 are all valuable assets now.
He singled out the low point before the 2009 World Championships in Yokohama.
At the time, back-to-back Olympic defeats left him in self-doubt for a while.
I was really miserable during that time, and I even thought about giving up.
But I told myself that since I had chosen this path, I would keep going.
In the end, Wang Hao won the men's singles championship at that World Championships and regained his confidence.
As a coach, Wang Hao has a new understanding of winning and losing.
He said: The gold medal is important, but more important is what we have learned and how much we have grown in the process of pursuing the gold medal.
I want to help young players avoid detours, but at the same time, I want them to understand that failure and setbacks are essential nutrients for growth.
Some netizens commented on Wang Hao's mental journey: Wang Hao's story tells us that life is not just one chance.
Although he failed to win an Olympic singles gold medal as an athlete, he didn't stop there.
Instead, he chose another way to make his dream come true.
The courage and wisdom of this transformation are more valuable than any gold medal.
He used his own experience to tell us that the stage of life is very big, and we must learn to adjust our roles and find our own position.
As long as we continue to work hard, we will eventually have our own highlight moments.
Now, through his disciple Fan Zhendong, Wang Hao has finally fulfilled his dream of becoming an Olympic singles champion.
When the reporter asked him if he felt that his regrets had finally been made up, Wang Hao smiled and shook his head: What are the regrets?
Every loss is an opportunity to grow.
Without those experiences, I wouldn't be where I am today.
I'm grateful for every step of the way, including the pain and setbacks.
They have shaped me and empowered me to help the next generation.
This is not a reparation for regrets, but a kind of inheritance and continuation.
Wang Hao's story is not only the history of a table tennis player's struggle, but also a life inspiration about growth, perseverance and inheritance.
He used his own experience to tell us that there is no road in vain on the road of life, and every step is to make ourselves better.
Whether as an athlete or a coach, he is contributing to the cause of Chinese table tennis.
As one netizen said: Wang Hao's story made me understand that success is not achieved overnight, it requires time, perseverance and wisdom.
Sometimes, we may be frustrated by a momentary failure, but as long as we can learn from the failure and keep the momentum going, we will definitely be able to win our own gold medal in the arena of life.
Wang Hao has used his actions to explain what is the true champion spirit, which is far more valuable than any medal.
His story inspires each and every one of us to give our all, no matter what position we are in, and never give up.
On the field of the Paris Olympic Games, when the Chinese national anthem sounded and the five-star red flag rose to the highest place, Wang Hao stood on the sidelines with tears in his eyes.
At this moment, he is not only proud of Fan Zhendong's victory, but also moved by the passing of the torch of Chinese table tennis.
From athlete to coach, from chasing gold medals to cultivating newcomers, Wang Hao's Olympic road is a road of continuous self-breakthrough and pursuit of excellence.
He used his own experience to tell us that the meaning of life is not only to achieve one's own dreams, but also to help others achieve their dreams.
This is the real way of kings.