Champion's anguish at failure to win gold
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, July 31, 2012
Chinese weightlifter Wu Jingbiao captured the hearts of a nation yesterday when he broke down in tears after losing out on a gold medal in the men's 56kg category at the London Olympics.
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Wu Jingbiao failed to win a gold for China. |
Online, there was a wave of support for the athlete whose performance earned huge compassion but which also raised questions over whether a gold medal is really so important.
Wu expressed sadness and guilt at not winning the gold medal for his country yesterday morning when he was interviewed by China Central Television just after losing to North Korean Om Yun Chol and earning silver.
"I'm sorry to my country, to the Chinese weightlifting team and to everyone who cared about me," Wu cried and bowed in front of the camera.
He could not control his emotions after the loss. "I just felt powerless and not excited today. I don't know why I wasn't excited in the game," he added. "I hope I have another four years."
His sadness was broadcast live early yesterday morning on the state television across China and the video clip was later uploaded to the Internet, receiving more than 627,000 reposts and comments on Weibo.com, most of them expressing support and offering words of comfort.
"No matter what, Wu Jingbiao you're always a hero in my heart! The silver is the country's glory as well!" wrote Feng Yue from Zhejiang Province. "We're proud to have such a patriot as you! This was not the only opportunity. Come on! I believe you can step on the top of the world again."
Yuguotianqing2006 wrote: "I don't think you have to apologize. A silver was good enough! You did great!"
Meanwhile, Wu's teammate Zhou Jun was also under the spotlight yesterday after she failed three of her lifts in women's 53kg category.
The 17-year-old's loss was described as "shameful" in some media reports, a view that was criticized online.
Many people said all athletes who appeared at the Olympics were winners and that the media should not be so unkind.
Every Chinese athlete feels pressure to do well at the Olympics.
When Yi Siling won the first gold medal for shooting, her coach Wang Yifu said: "Director Liu Peng asked us to win the first match and according to his instruction, we finished our goal in the first game."
Liu is director of China's sports bureau.
Xinhua news agency commentator Wang Jingyu said: "The result in the Olympics of each sport will directly affect its financial support and resources from the national sports bureau as well as the interests of the athletes, coaches and officials. With such pressure, how can an athlete have peace after losing the gold medal? How could they not feel guilty after failing the officials' expectations?"
Wang said officials, athletes and the media should change their focus from winning gold medals so that sports in China could get on a healthier track.
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