Zheng Qinwen, People's Daily: Big dreams can only be achieved through persistence
2024-08-12
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Original title: Big dreams can only be achieved through persistence (Olympics and Me)
After I won the match point with a forehand straight shot, my heart 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. This sport brings me endless joy. When I watched the Olympic Games as a child, when athletes won medals for the Chinese sports delegation, I also wanted to be one of them. The first time I stepped onto the Olympic arena, I secretly made up my mind to fight for 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. When I won the game, I overcame the pressure and surpassed myself.
Along the way, I never backed down even in the most difficult times. I want to thank the Chinese audience at the scene. Their cheers and the five-star red flags they waved inspired me. I also look forward to returning to Wuhan, Hubei, so that my hometown people 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 bravely and firmly towards your goal. Only persistence can achieve a big dream.
(The author is a player of the Chinese tennis team, interviewed and compiled by our reporters Li Shuo and Ji Fang)
(Source: People's Daily)
