An imperfect ending is also the perfect ending! Tribute to 34-year-old Wu Jingyu

In Hall A of the Makuhari International Convention and Exhibition Center in Tokyo, taekwondo women's 49 kg revival match, not many people pay attention to the competition, after all, this is a battle that can only determine the bronze medal at most.

More than four hours ago, Wu Jingyu just lost the quarter-finals on the same field, and the "2-33" score played on the big screen was somewhat eye-catching. Facing Spanish newcomer Iglias, who is 16 years younger than himself, 34-year-old Wu Jingyu has almost no strength to fight back. Because espanyol advanced to the final, Wu Jingyu won the chance to resurrect the game, and if she can win two games in a row, she will receive a bronze medal. But Wu Jingyu was stuck in the first game. Opponent Serbian Bogdanovic is one of the two strong players that Wu Jingyu has not won since his comeback, and at the Rio Olympics, it was Bogdanovic who blocked Wu Jingyu out of the semi-finals, shattering his dream of three consecutive championships.

9-12, Wu Jingyu still lost, ending her fourth Olympic trip in an imperfect way.

"I want to eat scrambled eggs with tomatoes now." Wu Jingyu, who had just left the scene, seemed to want to use a relaxed way to resolve a certain emotion, but the tears refracted in her eyes could not hide the facts, and she slowed down, she said: "This time may be the time to say goodbye." That's fine too. ”

Just after that 2-33 fiasco, Wu Jingyu's Weibo flooded with hundreds of comments. Someone said, "Sister, you're already great, you're a success standing there!" Someone said: "Sister Yu, I know you in the 2008 Olympic Games, I have been paying attention to you for so many years, I know that you have not given up the cause you love, you are a hero." Others said: "It doesn't matter, you are the best, I have been learning taekwondo since 2008, thank you for your efforts, you are the forever 08-12 champion." ”

Even if they lose, heroes will always be heroes, and their stories are the beacons that guide future generations to pursue their dreams. Wu Jingyu has never been forgotten, perhaps just as she can't forget taekwondo.

In the eyes of outsiders, 2008 was a blockbuster, 2012 successfully defended, 2016 encountered Waterloo, Wu Jingyu did not have much reason to stay at that time. Retired from the army, married and had children, became a university teacher... She seems to have turned a new page in her life. Two years after saying goodbye to the days associated with injuries, training and competitions, Wu Jingyu, 31, decided to try again, and she chose the most difficult path - a comeback. "To come back to my inner desire, I want to challenge myself to explore some unknown paths as I try to achieve my dreams." Wu Jingyu just wants to see the limits, her own, but also women's - four consecutive Olympic games in taekwondo competitions, since then no female athlete can achieve, "If it is only for the results as before, I estimate that I can't practice for a day." I've achieved something and don't need to prove anything for myself. I just want to be a different Wu Jingyu. "The difficulty of coming back is not only because of the disadvantages of age and physical fitness, but also because of the great courage to adapt to psychological changes. As a two-time Olympic champion, Wu Jingyu dominated the women's 49 kg class for a long time before retiring, but starting from scratch means that she needs to accept her imperfections and accept the successive defeats, which is a great ordeal. "From more than 40 people to chase, at that time it was basically far away. I see no hope at all. In fact, when there were two or three games left in the end, I felt hopeless. In February 2019, Wu Jingyu returned to the Fujairah Open when she ranked only 42nd in the Olympics. With few points and low rankings, Wu Jingyu needs to race against time. In the following 10 months, the "mother" moved to Germany, Britain, Japan, Bulgaria and other countries, participated in 10 international competitions non-stop, and competed for Olympic points, after 307 days and nights, she finally qualified for the Olympic Games at the 2019 Russian Grand Prix.

"Whether I win or lose, I just stand up and succeed." Before going to Tokyo, Wu Jingyu said so. She will never dwell on what she envisions of Tokyo. But as a former king, as a dreamer who has experienced difficulties to come to this stage, Wu Jingyu must have his own goals in his heart, and he has long been prepared for everything. After successive defeats to Iglias and Bogdanovic, the 34-year-old former champion can also calmly analyze his gains and losses: "My tactics are very clear, my consciousness is also very clear, but the physical state of the game is not good, it is indeed related to age. The moment the opponent taps up, when I feel the speed and the impact, I know that's the power of time. ”

The power of time is due to the sigh of the waves after the waves, but also to the understanding in the process of chasing dreams. Wu Jingyu said: "Many people tell me that you suffer this, but you can't get anything. But what I want to tell my daughter most is not to measure the value of anything, if you like it, if you want to, then you do it, there will be a reward. ”

Now, Wu Jingyu is about to return to the role of mother. Her daughter's English name was taken by IOC President Bach, who made a special trip to the taekwondo arena yesterday, chatted with Wu Jingyu, and made his own small wish - hoping to see her daughter grow up to participate in the Olympic Games and compete for medals in the future.

"She's a great athlete, she's a great mother." Bach said. And the English name he gave to Wu Jingyu's daughter, Gloria, is exactly the meaning of "glory".

Author: Wu Yulun

Edit: Gu Miao