Hefei, September 8 (Xinhua) -- "Nothing is more worth sticking to than a dream," Wang Chunyu wrote on his phone before the Tokyo Olympics began. Persistence, let Wang Chunyu finally shine at the Tokyo Olympic Games, becoming the first Chinese athlete to qualify for the Olympic women's 800m final. From the beginning of the rural primary school to the final of the Olympic Games, it took her 14 years, and her journey to the world has just begun.
The pace has not stopped for 14 years
After the end of the Tokyo Olympic Games, Wang Chunyu put into the preparation for the National Games during the quarantine period, training indoors every day according to the coach's plan, "training cannot be stopped, because it will not be long before the National Games will be played."
As the first Chinese athlete to reach the women's 800m final of the Olympic Games, Wang Chunyu felt that "life does not seem to have changed much" and soon returned to the rules and calm of the past.
China's Wang Chunyu in the women's 800m final at the Tokyo Olympics on August 3. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Xiaowei
Born in 1995, Wang Chunyu participated in the student sports meeting in 2007 in the Wanqiao District of Suzhou City, Anhui Province, met coach Zheng Xiaofeng, and began to train with him. I have been practicing this practice for more than ten years.
Wang Chunyu still clearly remembers that when she was a child, she had to get up at four or five o'clock in the morning to train, go to class after practicing, and continue training after school in the afternoon.
"After all these years, tiredness is certain. But when I was a child, I was very energetic, because I liked it, I didn't feel tired, and then I slowly got used to it. Wang Chunyu admitted that she was three minutes hot for other things, only sports this road, she persevered.
China's Wang Chunyu in the women's 800m semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics on July 31. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Xiaowei
In 2014, Wang Chunyu entered the Anhui Provincial Team and completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Anhui Normal University while training. After graduating this year, Wang Chunyu chose to stay in school, "The school has given me a lot of help, and I also want to give back to my alma mater." ”
In 2008, she participated in the Anhui Provincial Youth Athletics Championships for the first time and won the first place in the women's 800 meters; in 2010, she participated in the Anhui Provincial Games, breaking the provincial record for the women's 800 meters at that time; in 2013, she participated in the Asian Athletics Championships in Pune, India, and won the championship... Wang Chunyu, step by step, ran out of the province, ran abroad, and participated in the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.
Although she did not advance to the final that time, she improved her performance in Rio. Before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Wang Chunyu set himself a goal: to advance to the final.
Break through the self two brush pb
"Before participating in the semi-finals, I had the goal of advancing to the final, but I still didn't have the bottom and didn't know if I could do it." Recalling his trip to the Tokyo Olympics, Wang Chunyu admitted that there was a lot of pressure in the semi-finals.
With this pressure, she finished second in the group with a time of 1:59.14 in the semi-finals and successfully advanced to the final.
China's Wang Chunyu in the semi-finals of the 800m at the Tokyo Olympics on July 31. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Lili
This result not only refreshed her personal best (pb), but also created the history of Chinese athletes advancing to the women's 800m final of the Olympic Games for the first time.
After the game, when Wang Chunyu walked into the mixed interview area with a smile and sweat, a foreign media reporter asked her with curiosity: "How did you get into the final?" Wang Chunyu's answer was that his ability had improved a lot and he had self-confidence.
"Usually in the country used to lead themselves, when the first lap of the semi-finals on their own lead, when running do not know the specific results, but just want to refresh the pb." She said.
Wang Chunyu not only refreshed the pb, advanced to the final, and completed the goal, but also refreshed the pb again with a time of 1 minute 57.00 seconds in the women's 800 meters final of the Tokyo Olympic Games a few days later. But this time, she was full of regrets, because she secretly prepared a medal suit for herself and wanted to represent China on the podium.
China's Wang Chunyu in the semifinals of the women's 800m on July 31. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jia Yuchen
"The Tokyo Olympics is just beginning to enter the world stage, and I want to try again to improve, and I want to get good results and rankings in international competitions." Wang Chunyu, who did not accept defeat, felt that his journey to the world had just begun.
When it comes to the achievements in the Olympic Games, Wang Chunyu wants to thank the coach most, "Athletes achieve good results, both talent and good Bole."
"Good coaches and good seedlings are mutual. I was lucky to meet a good coach. There are too many talented seedlings, but not everyone can practice well, and not every school's PE teacher can bring out the Asian championship. Wang Chunyu said.
Perseverance emphasizes self-discipline
In the view of Wang Chunyu's coach and retired athlete Zheng Xiaofeng, Wang Chunyu continued and realized his dream of serving the country. In her, Zheng Xiaofeng saw the qualities that high-level athletes need.
"First, I am not afraid of suffering or tiredness, Wang Chunyu has never felt tired in 14 years of training. The second is special self-discipline, she focuses on training, and every detail can be executed in place. The third is that there will be rest, there is no mobile phone dependence, and the rest time will be self-adjusted. Fourth, the psychological quality and learning ability are strong, the competition will not be particularly tense, if the competition delays learning, she will seize all the time to make up for the cultural class. Zheng Xiaofeng said that Wang Chunyu can meet his requirements every time he competes, and even bring surprises.
China's Wang Chunyu in the women's 800m semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics on July 31. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yibo
"Self-discipline is really important." Wang Chunyu said that he did not have any tricks, that is, to train well and rest well.
"When training, I always get up on time in the morning, insist on eating breakfast, and then strictly implement the plan formulated by the coach. I don't go to bed late at night, and as long as it's normal training, I never stay up late. "Wang Chunyu said that in terms of diet, she will also adhere to self-discipline." It's a responsibility for yourself, for the coach, for the country, and no one is going to be around 24 hours a day to watch you, so be sure to rely on yourself. ”
"Sometimes I can't help but remind young players to rest well and not stay up late to play games." Wang Chunyu felt that she was a "nagging sister".
"I love the feeling of sweating after exercise." She also hopes that more people can have their own favorite way of exercising. "In the atmosphere of national fitness, everyone has many choices, choose a project that you like and are suitable for, and it is good to stick to it for a long time."
Source: Xinhua News Agency