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Zheng Qinwen, a player of the Chinese tennis team, wrote in the People's Daily published on August 6 that the first time he stepped onto the Olympic field, he secretly made up his mind to fight for a medal for the Chinese sports delegation. No matter what sport you choose, you must learn to love and enjoy it, and move forward bravely and firmly towards your goal. Only persistence can achieve a big dream.

Big dreams can only be achieved through persistence

After I won the match point with a straight forehand shot, I was filled with joy:I won the Olympic gold medal for my country, I made history!

I started playing tennis when I was 6 years old. I enjoyed the sport so much. When I watched the Olympic Games as a kid and saw athletes winning medals for the Chinese delegation, I wanted to be one of them.The first time I stepped onto the Olympic arena, I secretly made up my mind to win a medal for the Chinese sports delegation.

With this goal in mind, I felt unprecedented strength at the Olympics, but the difficulty of the competition was still beyond my imagination. I competed for 5 consecutive days and two consecutive rounds lasted more than 3 hours. I kept pushing my limits. But I knew that no matter what my physical condition was, I would fight to the end, and no matter what the score was, I would not give up.

It was very meaningful for me to beat the world number one player Swiatek in the semi-finals. She had beaten me six times before, and my victory in the semi-finals proved my strength and willpower, which strengthened my determination to keep going forward.

In the final, I overcame my nervousness and performed more calmly and focused than ever before. In fact, I could feel my hands shaking when I got the match point, but I was very focused and only thought about how to play the next ball well.The moment I won the game, I overcame the pressure and surpassed myself.

Photo by Li Yanfei of the People's Daily Reporting Group

Along the way, even in the most difficult times, I never backed down.I would like to thank the Chinese audience here. Their cheers and waving of the five-star red flags inspired me greatly.I also look forward to returning to Wuhan, Hubei, so that my fellow countrymen can witness my growth and progress.

This gold medal means a lot to me. I can enjoy every subsequent game with a more relaxed mood, and this experience will always remain in my memory.

I have always envied those who can make history, and now I have become one of them. When the gold medal was hung around my neck, I realized how heavy it was, which made me feel a heavy responsibility. I hope that through my efforts, more people will understand tennis and more children will pick up a racket. In fact, no matter what sport you choose, you must learn to love and enjoy it, and move forward towards your goal bravely and firmly.Big dreams can only be achieved through persistence.

source｜"People's Daily" (August 6, 2024, Page 11) (The author is Zheng Qinwen, an athlete of the Chinese tennis team, interviewed and compiled by reporters Li Shuo and Ji Fang)