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On August 8, Beijing time, in the Paris Olympic synchronized swimming group skills free competition, the Chinese team ranked first with a total score of 996.1389 points in three events, 81.7968 points higher than the second-placed United States team.

The Chinese synchronized swimming team won first place in the technical free program, free program, and skills free program events, and eventually took the lead by a huge margin, winning the gold medal in the synchronized swimming team event. This was also the first time that the Chinese synchronized swimming team won an Olympic gold medal.

During the Chinese team's performance, a special action design attracted the attention of netizens. After the game, Zhang Xiaohuan, the head coach of the Chinese synchronized swimming team, revealed that it was the oracle character "山".

The Chinese team competed in the last freestyle event of synchronized swimming at the Paris Olympics. Source: Xinhua News Agency

Zhang Xiaohuan said that he incorporated Chinese elements into the choreography to enhance the artistic impression of Chinese culture. "For example, one of the team members' shapes during the competition is actually the Chinese oracle bone character 'mountain'. It is quite vivid and gives people the feeling of stacked mountains. It also shows that our synchronized swimming team has been overcoming difficulties and obstacles and has never given up chasing dreams."

Some netizens lamented, "I really didn't expect the word 'mountain' in oracle bone script," "The Chinese team's idea of ​​building the legs is too 'out of this world', even those who study ancient characters don't dare to think so," "This is the confidence of having a 5,000-year-old cultural heritage!"

The oracle bone script for the character "山". Source: CCTV News

After winning the championship, Zhang Xiaohuan also said that the group technique freestyle was a weak event, and he relied on the technical support of the brother team, the National Diving Team, during the preparation process.

"China's diving is very strong. The diving team's coach provided a lot of help in take-off and water entry training. In the competition, we scored a lot of high points by relying on lifting movements."

In addition to the ingenious oracle action design, the Chinese synchronized swimming team also spent a lot of time on the choreography of the works.

In the free routine, the Chinese team specially designed an Eiffel Tower shape for the opening shore lift to pay tribute to the Paris Olympics.

In addition to the elements of paying tribute to Paris, this set of movements also incorporates new Chinese style elements. This element is not only reflected in the typical "orchid finger" on the hand shape, but also in the swimsuit. "This is the window paper-cut element designed by our coach Xiao Huan in consultation with the designer based on the Chinese New Year custom of pasting window paper-cuts," said Feng Yu, the flag bearer of the synchronized swimming team.

In the group skills free competition, the Chinese team also incorporated the martial arts element Wing Chun into the land movements, which was eye-catching and won the applause of the audience.

"There are cultural differences between the East and the West. What I want to see most is to have judges from various cultural backgrounds accept our music and choreography and have our work respected." Zhang Xiaohuan said that the goal of Chinese synchronized swimming is not just to stand on the highest podium.

On August 7, the synchronized swimming team free routine competition at the Paris Olympics, the Chinese team. Source: China Sports Daily

Behind the Chinese team's exciting 3 minutes in the Olympic swimming pool are the synchronized swimmers' rigorous training day after day. Sweating and even bleeding is their daily routine.

After the implementation of the new rules for synchronized swimming, the team events added a technical free choice competition on the basis of the technical free choice and free choice, which increased the difficulty and risk, and athletes suffered more injuries than before. When they do the push-up movement, the shoulders, elbows and wrists, which are the stress-bearing parts, are easily injured.

During a training session in preparation for the Paris Olympics at the end of May, Chang Hao, a top player, fell into the water during a free lift exercise and his chin accidentally hit the knee of another team member, causing him to bleed profusely.

Zhang Xiaohuan said that when entering the final sprint stage of preparation, the girls all had injuries of varying degrees, but they never missed training.

Since first participating in the Olympic synchronized swimming event in 1988, after 36 years of struggle and waiting, the Chinese synchronized swimming team was finally crowned in the Olympic arena in the most gorgeous and stunning way.

"Today's result is the result of the joint efforts of several generations of synchronized swimmers. We will continue to work hard and strive in the pairs competition." Zhang Xiaohuan is grateful.

In the early morning of August 10th, the synchronized swimming duet technical optional event will be competed by the "sisters" Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi from the synchronized swimming team. Cheer for them!

Source: Jiupai News, CCTV News, China News Network, China Sports Daily, Shangguan News, The Paper, China Daily, related comments, etc.