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Editor's note: If people do not have spirit, they will not stand, and if the country does not have spirit, it will not be strong. Over the past hundred years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the country has continued to develop and the nation is rejuvenating. In particular, the sportsmanship of athletes who work hard, bravely achieve good results, and win glory for the country has inspired generations of builders to forge ahead. During this period, Shandong Sports is also constantly enterprising and changing with each passing day. As General Secretary Xi Jinping said, "The dream of each of us and the dream of a sports power are closely linked to the Chinese dream." Today, let's get close to Zhang Dong, a Chinese male kayaker, and learn about the Shandong Man's dream-chasing road.
The National Water Training Base, located on the shores of Qiandao Lake, is where the Chinese men's kayaking team is actively preparing for the battle. Zhang Dong from the Chinese men's kayaking team, an authentic Shandong Hanzi, has been in contact with the kayaking project for ten years since he was 16 years old, and the kayak under him and the oars in his hand have become his indispensable intimate partners.
Talking about his first impression of the kayaking project, Zhang Dong said: "At the beginning, I had a kind of project that I wanted to play and have fun, because I liked water sports. It's shocking, it's fun, it's exciting. ”
For ordinary people, kayaking is a difficult sport that requires a long period of practice to sit on the boat. "It was cold, in March. I sat up and flipped over, just flipped over, and flipped into the water. Zhang Dong recalled the scene when he first dealt with kayaking, "At that time, in order to learn balance, I studied for a week, and I had to turn over an average of about 20 times a day. Keep flipping, sit up and turn over, if it's cold, come up and run, and then go down and flip again. ”
When he first entered the national team, Zhang Dong was the youngest, and his experience, knowledge and physical fitness were not as good as those of the old players. Even in the face of many difficulties, the young Zhang Dong's heart was full of the momentum of the newborn calf who was not afraid of the tiger. He studied hard, got up early and greedily, and even gave himself extra training. "The biggest feeling of usual training is tired, tired and hungry, feeling that the abdomen is hollowed out, and the feeling of being hungry is a little dizzy." Before, sometimes there were 40 kilometers a day at most, basically about five hours, and it was been paddling all the time. Paddle out 20 kilometers and turn back another 20 kilometers. ”
It is this perseverance that allows Zhang Dong to gradually narrow the gap with his teammates, and even achieve overtaking, becoming the leader of the Chinese men's kayak team. "We must persevere, and we have always had this belief in our hearts." Others can do it, how can I not do it, I always want to practice this thing. Zhang Dong said.
Whoever has the will, it will be done. In the men's double kayak 1000m final of the 13th National Games in 2017, Zhang Dong won his first gold medal in his life. At the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, Zhang Dong and his teammates won gold in the men's double kayak 1000 meters event, which is also the second time that the Chinese kayak team has won the championship in this event after eight years.
After winning the Asian Games championship, Zhang Dong reaped the honor and also harvested the sweet fruit of love. On February 10, 2021, Zhang Dong held a wedding ceremony with Ma Qing, who is also an athlete of the Chinese kayaking team, at the Qiandao Lake Water Training Base. "Witnessing my love on this project, and then from acquaintance to falling in love to getting married, that is, to become better, to work hard to create a better future for the two of us." Talking about his wife Ma Qing, Zhang Dong's eyes were full of sweetness.
Now that the Tokyo Olympics are approaching, Zhang Dong will continue to move towards his dream, "that is, to make yourself stronger, in order to be able to have better results." Break through every day and don't live up to your efforts. "The middle current hits the water, and the strivers are the first; the waves suppress the flying boat, and stand bravely at the head of the tide." Bless Zhang Dong, realize his dream at the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games, and reach the peak again!