Beijing time on August 10, in the women's shot put final of the Paris Olympic Games, Chinese player Song Jiayuan won the bronze medal with a time of 19.32 meters. Five-time Olympian and defending champion Gong Lijiao finished fifth with 19.27 meters.
In response to this, Gong Lijiao posted: "The journey to the fifth Olympic Games has come to a successful end. I got all 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. There are regrets, tears, gains, and unwillingness, but you will not regret it if you work hard. , thank you friends who have always supported me, I have received your encouragement! I will continue to work hard to complete my final sports career! "
Gong Lijiao is 35 years old this year and won the bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It rose to silver medal at the 2016 London Olympics, ranked fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Now, she is ranked fifth at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Gong Lijiao's Olympic record shows a tortuous trajectory, and she has won from first to fifth.
"Have you ever thought about retiring in these years?" a Beijing Youth Daily reporter asked Gong Lijiao.
She replied: "Actually, no, I am the kind of person who makes myself practice until I am exhausted. I will retire only when I can't practice anymore. Although this process is very difficult, because I hope to win the Olympic championship again, especially in throwing events. , it is not easy. For example, if you lose a game, your confidence will be knocked down, and then you need to rebuild your confidence. But if you persevere, I feel that I am the best. No matter what the result is, I hope that I will be the best. No regrets."
Perhaps, failing to defend her title in Paris is a regrettable result in the eyes of the outside world, but for Gong Lijiao, who suffered a back injury before the game and was unable to play, she has given everything she has and there is no need to talk about regrets.
[Source: Jiupai News Comprehensive People's Daily, Party Account, Beiqing Sports]
