At 35, legendary Chinese shot-putter Gong Lijiao is gearing up for her fifth Olympic journey, setting her sights on defending her gold medal at the Paris Olympics! 🥇
Gong wowed the world at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she hurled the shot put an incredible 20.58 meters, not only smashing her personal best but also clinching that elusive Olympic gold. 🌟
\"Each competition gets tougher,\" Gong shared with CGTN Sports Scene's Zhu Mandan. \"After Tokyo, I had high hopes for Paris. But as I get older, my physical strength isn't what it used to be. Still, I've matured as an athlete, digging deeper in training and constantly improving. I'm really looking forward to Paris!\"
Despite acknowledging that Paris will mark her final Olympic appearance, Gong feels no pressure. Instead, she's all about savoring every moment on the world's biggest stage. 🎭
\"Paris will be my fifth Olympics. Life doesn't give you endless years to keep competing,\" she mused. \"People think I'd feel pressured, but I've won all the titles I can. What matters now is enjoying every match and discovering myself through these games. So, the Paris Olympics is more of a personal challenge. I'm not nervous anymore.\"
Changing things up isn't easy, especially after over two decades in the sport. But Gong embraced new techniques introduced by her coach, Dieter Kollark, even if it meant stepping out of her comfort zone.
\"I'm quite short for shot put, and my glide at the start was shorter,\" Gong explained. \"He adjusted my starting movements to create more space, which helped a lot. Initially, it was tough changing techniques after over 20 years, but once I embraced his methods, I realized they made me faster and improved my results.\"
While she might not feel the pressure, Gong is still aiming high—for another gold medal in Paris! 🥇
\"My goal is definitely to win gold. I believe I have the ability,\" she declared confidently. \"If I work well with my coach and perform my best on the field, I'm confident I can win the gold medal again for China.\"
We can't wait to cheer on Gong Lijiao as she throws for glory once more! Go, Gong! 🙌
Reference(s):
Chinese shot-putter Gong Lijiao wants to defend her title in Paris
cgtn.com
