TOKYO, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Liang, who completed a breakthrough in the history of Chinese men's rowing, said on the 28th that the bronze medal is also a gold medal in his heart, and he has no regrets, and this bronze medal will bring help to the development of Chinese men's rowing.
Liu Zhiyu (left) / Zhang Liang at the award ceremony on July 28. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Xiaoyi
On the 28th, the first final day of the Tokyo Olympic Rowing Competition, Zhang Liang and Liu Zhiyu won the bronze medal in the men's double sculls competition, which was also the first Olympic men's rowing medal in China and even Asia.
Zhang Liang said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency: "This medal has the significance of a historical breakthrough, after all, the Chinese men's rowing team has not even entered the top six in the Olympic Games, (today's breakthrough) let us have a new understanding in our thinking." ”
In 2019, the two won the World Championships, which made them the favourites to win the Tokyo Olympics. But with the news of the postponement of the Olympic Games, Zhang Liang, who was 33 years old at the time, was forced to hold out for another year, which was not easy.
Data chart: On September 1, 2019, China's Liu Zhiyu (left) and Zhang Liang won the first place in the men's double sculls group a final with a time of 6 minutes 05 seconds and 680 seconds at the award ceremony. On the same day, the World Rowing Championships in Linz-Otensheim, Austria came to an end. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Guo Chen
After five years of arduous preparations, Zhang Liang believes that what supported him to tokyo was his pursuit of his dreams, "every athlete wants to stand on the highest podium of the Olympic Games in his sports career."
Although he failed to win the gold, Zhang Liang did not feel regretful: "Although we are holding a bronze medal, it is also a gold medal in my heart." I have no regrets because I have given too much, I and my partner, my team have given too much, (whether it is a gold medal or not) is no longer important. ”
Judging from the data, the first and second half of the two finals were drawn to about 3 minutes and 1 second, and they had tried their best.
Liu Zhiyu (left) / Zhang Liang in the game on July 28. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Xiaoyi
For the champion France and the runner-up Dutch team, Zhang Liang commented: "After all, they are abroad, there are more competitions, there are European Championships, World Cups, etc., very early into the state of competition. We're still a little bit worse, we've never played against them again after we played internationally in 2019. This year is only one world cup stop, and it is still a little slower to enter the game state. ”
Zhang Liang believes that this medal will be an opportunity for the development of Chinese rowing, especially men's rowing, "This medal is a good start for male athletes to engage in rowing in the future." He also said that there should be a change in the thinking that Chinese men's rowing is not good in the past.
Editors: Wang Hengzhi, Yu Sihui, Gao Meng, Cai Hanbin (Intern)
Produced by the Xinhua News Agency's Tokyo Olympic Games Reporting Group