Fearless of challenging oneself through international experiences| Taekwondo | China
Champion Talk about Universiade
Since the start of the Universiade, I have always been paying attention to it. Young college students always remind me of my athlete experiences.
Recalling the road to winning the championship, it is precisely because of my ideals, courage to take on responsibilities, diligence and hard work, and perseverance that I have climbed to the highest international podium.
When the coach selected me, he asked me, "Are you afraid or not afraid of hardship?" My answer was, "Not afraid!". Looking back now, only those who have never experienced hardship dare to say they are not afraid of hardship.
At the age of 13, on my first day at Beijing Sport University, I received training arrangements to run a long distance of 10000 meters. I didn't expect the training afterwards to be even more challenging, as I kicked barefoot without shoes; Kicked off the toenails, wrapped in medical white tape and continued to kick; My legs got waterlogged from kicking, so I used an elastic band to tighten them before kicking... In order to better improve our competitive strength, I initially trained with a boy and fought against each other. When we hit, we had a split in the waist and rolled on the ground, almost suffocating.
Hard work pays off, and in the end, I won the championship at the national championship. Winning a championship in just one year of practicing Taekwondo is unprecedented, which made me realize that breaking through limits and creating miracles is possible. Afterwards, I anchored my ideals and goals to the 2000 Sydney Olympics, which was also the first time Taekwondo was included in an Olympic competition.
When I was selected for the national team in 1996, I had no concept of the Olympics and my understanding only stayed at the Beijing Asian Games that I had watched. At that time, many foreign experts believed that Chinese taekwondo could not participate in the Olympics within five years, let alone win medals.
Under international bias, the Chinese Taekwondo team firmly believes that if others practice for an hour, we will practice for ten hours. We want to prove that Chinese Taekwondo is definitely good! During the preparation period, when athletes from other countries relax and rest, we maintain training, puncturing three or four layers of blisters on the soles of the feet with needles and continuing to practice. Kicked every day, my arms and legs were covered in bruises, and after crying, I continued to practice.
Success comes naturally from hard work. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, I won four games and won the world's first Olympic taekwondo championship of over 67 kilograms, standing on the highest podium, giving China's taekwondo its first gold medal. The world remembered China and the name "Chen Zhong", and thereafter this emerging sports project began to receive national attention.
After winning the Olympic gold medal, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to the Taekwondo career. Taekwondo is not just a sport for me, it is my career, where my ideals and dreams lie. But a month before the 2002 Busan Asian Games, I was accidentally injured and my form fell from peak to trough. The rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament in my right leg, meniscus injury, and complex knee injury have accompanied me to this day. The doctor diagnosed that the recovery time after surgery is over a year. Due to my preparation for the 2004 Athens Olympics, I chose conservative treatment and insisted on training with injuries.
During my injury, the coaches and teammates remained steadfast, believing and supporting me. They gave me the courage to overcome my illness. I thought at the time that even if I was disabled, I would still be willing to go to war. This battle was even more difficult, with knee joints often swollen. To reduce support damage, I had to lie on the ground for training and then stand up to punch. Unexpectedly, after practicing for a year, I became a versatile athlete and successfully defended my title at the 2004 Athens Olympics. In 2005, despite undergoing meniscus surgery, the ligament in the right knee still broke. I endured the pain and won the gold medal at the 2006 Doha Asian Games; In 2007, I won the World Championships and achieved my personal Grand Slam.
How can I see a rainbow without experiencing wind and rain? It is precisely because of difficulties that my inner strength and beliefs become stronger. The experience of athletes has clarified my goals and taught me how to view glory and face adversity, especially to believe in myself. If it weren't for the hard work and perseverance at that time, there would definitely be no me now. I hope my growth experience can inspire contemporary college students.
Chengdu achieves its dreams, and the Universiade provides a platform for world university students to build, pursue, and fulfill their dreams. At this Universiade, Beijing Sport University sent a delegation of more than 50 people, including 44 athletes, 7 coaches, and 1 auxiliary staff. They will use the competition as a window to showcase the good spiritual outlook of the students of the Beijing Sport University, bring glory to the country, the nation, the school, and life. I want to say to the players on the field that youth pursues dreams, and I hope you, like me, will not be afraid of difficulties, challenge yourself, and fulfill your mission and responsibility. Finally, I wish the Chengdu Universiade a complete success and wish all participants excellent results.
