Source: CCTV.com

04-24-2007 16:50

In our today's feature, we are going to have a look at Zhang Guozheng, 2004 Athens Olympic Champion in Men's 69kg Weightlifting. The 2008 Olympics will be his third time to take part in Olylmpics. After experiencing ups and downs in his life, Zhang Guozhen has a bright furutre in his Olympic road.

Zhang Guozheng has won the Men's 69kg Weightlifting in Athens Olympics. After the awarding ceremony, his first call is through to his wife.

Zhang said, "Are you happy? Feel Happy? I love you so much!"

In 2001, Zhang Guozheng married his girlfriend Gao Wenjuan. He was 27 years old that year. In national Weightlifting team, he is the big brother and the only athlete that got married. The athletes like his age all got retired. After entering the national team for the second year, Zhang Guozheng participated the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Every one saw him as a dark horse to win medal, but he only got the fourth place.

"I'm greenhorn at that time and I lack experience in big events like Olympics," said Zhang.

For the first time to participate Olympics, Zhang Guozheng met many strong opponents. The one that impresses him most was Georgi Markov of Bulgaria.

Zhang Guozheng said, "I can feel the magnetic atmosphere that emits from him, which is irresistible.His ability and power that accumulated by his normal and intensive training gave him the strong confidence of domination and wining. That atmosphere fills all the room."

Despite his failure in Sydney Olympics, Zhang Guozheng still chose to insist and set his new target.

"Olympics is so extraordinary and it's so attractive to me. I only have one thing in my mind, and that is to insist and to participate the next Olympics," said Zhang.

From 2001 to 2003, Zhang Guozheng almost grabbed all the titles in domestic and International events. However, the consistent participation in matches arose his injury in waist and his competitive form was not so good as before.

Zhang said, "Sometimes I lost my confidence and I just want to give up. I thought I couldn't manage it and I often met this kind of circumstances. I use the word "insist" to encourage myself. "

In 2004, the 30-year-old Zhang Guozheng came to the Olympic Arena again.Before the Games, his ability and confidence is both sky high.

"This time when I met the other opponents, I didn't feel the magnetic atmosphere like in 2000 emitted from those athletes. And my magnetic atmosphere overpowers," added Zhang.

The snatch competition took place first and Zhang Guozheng's three attempts were all successful. He managed 160kg and lead the second-place athlete by 7.5kg to enter the clean and jerk competition.

Zhang said, "After the snatch, I feel quite excited. Because the 160kg is a limit for me."

According to Olympic rules, the final ranking of athletes is decided by the total weight of his or her best result in snatch and clean and jerk. Clean and jerk is Zhang Guozheng's strong point and he keeps the 197.5 kg world record.

However, due to overexcitement and some relaxation, Zhang Guozheng's second attempt failed.

"I didn't have too much feeling at that moment and I thought I could do it again in the third attempt.(Footage in the third attempt, Zhang Failed) But I felt so pathetic..at that moment I felt my heart and my lungs were broken. I tried to stand up but I couldn't manage it. I felt my upper body was disjointed with my under body," said Zhang Guozheng.

After two attempts, the temporarily second-placed Lee Bae Young of South Korea was only 5kg short of Zhang Guozheng.

"I only talked with my coach one sentence. That is I don't mean not to lift it, but my waist bone was really disjointed. I repeated that sentence again and again," said Zhang.

If Lee Bae Young managed the 195kg, Zhang Guozheng would once again miss the gold. But with Lee Bae Young's failure, Zhang Guozheng finally got the gold he dreamed for so long time.

After the Athens Olympics, Zhang Guozheng didn't relax too much and he managed to win the gold in Doha Asian Games with ease.

Zhang Guozheng will be 34 years old in 2008. And now he is busy preparing for his life's third Olympic Games--2008 Olympics. And he is still insisting.

 

Editor:Liu Fang