Flag bearer Zhao Shuai picked up the bronze and displayed the national flag. Photo: Xinhua News Agency
On July 25, Zhao Shuai, the male flag-bearer of the Chinese team at the Tokyo Olympic Games, competed in the men's taekwondo men's 68 kg category and finally won a bronze medal. In this Olympic cycle, Zhao Shuai rose from the 58 kg class of the Rio Olympic Games to the 68 kg class, leaving behind the defending identity to start from scratch, overcoming the strength and playing style changes brought about by weight gain.
This bronze medal is still full of weight for Chinese men's taekwondo, and Zhao Shuai, who raised the national flag in the venue to celebrate, is still very handsome.
"Upgraded" Zhao Shuai
He has won 3 championships in more than 1 year
At the Rio Olympics, Zhao Shuai topped the men's 58 kg category, achieving a breakthrough of zero gold medals in Chinese men's taekwondo. In just one year, Zhao Shuai opened the road of "upgrading" - at the 2017 World Championships, he participated in the men's 63 kg class, not only won the first gold of the individual world championships, but also the first gold of Chinese men's taekwondo. In the same year, Zhao Shuai once again raised the level to 68 kg and successfully won the gold.
From the Olympic Games to the National Games, in just over a year, Zhao Shuai has won 3 championships in 3 levels. For taekwondo athletes, upgrading means zeroing out the points, starting from scratch, and it's also a whole new challenge to play. It should be known that Zhao Shuai's original 58 kg class advantage is outstanding, and after rising to 68 kg class, his height and strength are likely to no longer be dominant.
For the upgrade, Zhao Shuai also hesitated for a while. "Because of 68 and 58, its feeling is completely different, and 68 is more about comprehensive ability, especially confrontation ability." He said, "Before, I flew my opponent first, and now people will kick me out, people have great strength, speed, and continuity is stronger than you, so they will not be confident." Even so, Zhao Shuai still gritted his teeth and embarked on the road of upgrading, gradually building confidence through training and competition attempts, and daring to make different attempts and challenges.
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Zhao Shuai served as the flag bearer of the Chinese delegation and won the silver medal in the men's 68 kg category. In December of that year, he won the first international competition in that category. At the 2019 World Taekwondo Grand Slam Annual Celebration, Zhao Shuai won the double qualification for the Tokyo Olympic Games with Olympic points and a Grand Slam Passcard.
In order to better stand on the Tokyo Olympic games, Zhao Shuai overcame various problems brought about by age and weight gain, gritted his teeth and insisted on preparing. "Grit your teeth in training to keep going in the game." Zhao Shuai said, "Only by insisting, can we play out in the game, in the most tired time, this action is not deformed, can hit the opponent, can score, this is the most important." ”
Zhao Shuai (right) shakes hands with his opponent after the match. Photo: Xinhua News Agency
"Good handsome" Zhao Shuai
Zheng Shuyin cheered for her boyfriend in the stands
After the semi-finals of this Olympic Games were reversed, Zhao Shuai had no chance to compete for his second Olympic gold medal. However, the entry of "Zhao Shuai is handsome" rushed to the social media hot search list, and netizens under the topic sent encouragement to Zhao Shuai, praising him as "still very handsome". Indeed, having participated in two Olympic Games and achieved 1 gold and 1 bronze, Zhao Shuai's achievements are dazzling enough, and he is still the leader of Men's Taekwondo in China.
In the 1/4 final, the moment Zhao Shuai advanced, the camera captured his girlfriend Zheng Shuyin's "aunt laughing" in the stands. In the evening bronze medal match, Zheng Shuyin appeared in the stands again, closely watching her boyfriend's every move in the venue. When the game time ran out and Zhao Shuai won the bronze medal, Zheng Shuyin applauded excitedly.
Zheng Shuyin applauds Zhao Shuai in the stands (right). Photo: Xinhua News Agency
The Rio Olympic champion couple, who have joined hands in Tokyo for the second time in five years, also continue to shoulder the heavy responsibility of competing for medals and even gold medals for the Chinese delegation. Regardless of good times and bad times, comfort each other, support each other, and let the champion couple keep moving forward.
This night, Zhao Shuai not only received a bronze medal, but also the support of his girlfriend, the team, and the blessings of the Chinese people.
Zhao Shuai, who entered the opening ceremony with the national flag, was very handsome, and Zhao Shuai, who held up the national flag to celebrate after winning the bronze medal competition, was still very handsome.
Beijing News reporter Liu Chen
Edited by Wang Chunqiu proofread by Liu Yue