Bright Net News(Reporter Liu Xiyao) On March 6, Chinese athletes Zheng Peng and Yang Hongqiong performed well in the Paralympic cross-country skiing long-distance-sitting competition at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, winning gold medals for men and women respectively.
Unlike cross-country skiing for able-bodied athletes, in the Paralympic cross-country skiing-sitting competition, the athlete needs to use the seated skis and snowboards to glide, and use the ski poles in their hands to obtain forward acceleration.
The picture shows the Chinese team players Zheng Peng, Mao Zhongwu and Du Tian in the men’s long-distance cross-country skiing competition in the sitting position.Guangming Daily reporter Li Jie / photo
In the Paralympic cross-country skiing men’s long-distance-sitting competition that day, Zheng Peng and Mao Zhongwu broke through the siege at the first timing point and established the lead. After several alternate leads, Zheng Peng finally won the gold medal, followed by Mao Zhongwu, who won a precious silver medal.
On the women’s side, Chinese athlete Yang Hongqiong established an advantage from the beginning of the competition and crossed the finish line leading the way, winning the fifth gold medal for the Chinese delegation in this Winter Paralympic Games.
Zheng Peng won the fourth place in the long-distance event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. At that time, the young man from Fujian said: “If the control in the first few laps is better, the results may be better. Go back and continue to work harder, Work hard to get on the podium at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.”
Today, he has fulfilled his wish four years ago. When talking about the progress in the past four years, he believes that his biggest improvement is in the psychological aspect: “My biggest improvement in the past four years is the mentality, and I have adjusted better. Now I have a better mentality and physical condition. No matter whether I win or lose, I can adjust my mentality, and all I have to do today is to bring out the training level.”
In the interview, Zheng Peng also mentioned the mutual promotion with the “big brother” Mao Zhongwu in the team. Mao Zhongwu, 36, used to be a table tennis and wheelchair racer. Although he is the oldest, he has the shortest exposure to Paralympic cross-country skiing. He half-jokingly said, “We need to learn more from the buddies in the team.” Talking about his teammate Zheng Peng, Mao Zhongwu said: “We compete with each other and catch up with each other. The encouraging eyes in tests and small competitions, I will never forget that feeling.”
The picture shows Yang Hongqiong of the Chinese team crossed the line to win the gold medal in the women’s cross-country skiing long distance-sitting group competition.Guangming Daily reporter Li Jie / photo
Yang Hongqiong was very excited after winning the championship. She said in the mixed interview area: “I think since I practiced sports, whether it’s wheelchair basketball or skiing, my entire personality has changed. I didn’t communicate with relatives who came to my family before, it was a kind of A very closed state. After practicing sports, my whole person is cheerful, and I can even infect the people around me and make them laugh. The biggest change is my willpower. I gave up what I did before, or chose other options. Yes. But after practicing sports, as long as you look for it, you’re done.”
In today’s competition, the athletes from southern China showed their impressive strength. Du Tian, who won the fourth place in the men’s long distance-stance competition, is from Dazhou, Sichuan. He also talked about the development of snow sports in the south in the post-match interview: “Our understanding of this event in the south is relatively weak. It is also difficult to see snow sports in the south. It was also very difficult for me when I first came into contact with this project. The country has given us a lot of support in training and other aspects. Today, I can learn and communicate with the masters on this stage. It can make snow sports more known to more people.”
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责编：杨帆 ]