Author: Tan Jian Li Zhuolin
Good news came from the Tokyo Olympics on July 24: Hou Zhihui, a weightlifter from Guiyang from Hunan Province, set a new Olympic record with a snatch of 94 kg in the women's 49 kg class and at the same time won the title with a total of 210 kg. Level champion.
This is the first gold medal won by China in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics, and it is also the second gold medal won by the Chinese delegation in this event.
On the afternoon of July 24, the Tokyo Olympic Games women's 49 kg weightlifting final was held at the Tokyo International Forum Building. The Chinese weightlifter Hou Zhihui lived up to expectations and won the championship with a snatch 94 kg, a clean and jerk 116 kg, and a total score of 210 kg.
At the same time, Hou Zhihui broke the Olympic snatch record and total score record with a total score of 210 kg with 94 kg.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
This rising star in China's weightlifting industry has attracted widespread attention from all walks of life.
How did she get involved with weightlifting?
How did she stand out from the "little hairy" who has no knowledge of weightlifting and enter the national team in just 7 years?
After experiencing the trough period, how did she cheer herself up and shine in the weightlifting arena again?
With these questions in mind, on July 24, the reporter went to Hou Zhihui's hometown of Meitang Village, Zhangshi Town, Guiyang County, to look for the growth trajectory of this weightlifter.
"Little Monkey" accidentally became attached to weightlifting
The Dongchong Group of Meitang Village is located in a small valley about 3 kilometers away from the town government, where Hou Zhihui was born.
Because her parents have been working in Guangdong, Hou Zhihui, sister and brother are all looked after by grandparents.
In the impression of the villagers, Zhihui is thin, lively and active, and with the surname Hou, she has been known as the "little monkey" since she was a child.
In Hou Zhihui's home, family members, relatives and friends cheered for her.
Photo courtesy of Guiyang County Party Committee Propaganda Department
"Little Monkey" became attached to weightlifting from an accident.
In 2008, in preparation for the annual Guiyang County Primary and Secondary School Student Track and Field Games, all classes from the middle elementary school to the 6th grade in Zhangzhong City selected participating students, and Hou Zhihui was selected.
At the end of the year, the Guiyang County Primary and Middle School Student Track and Field Games was held as scheduled.
The Zhangzhong city center finish team performed mediocre and did not get the top spot.
Some other team leader teachers joked: "You bring all the kindergarten students, how can you get a good ranking?" This "kindergarten student" refers to Hou Zhihui. She was only 1.3 meters tall and weighed less than 29. Kilogram.
No one would have thought that a 30-year-old young man who was watching the game "stared" Hou Zhihui.
When Hou Zhihui sprinted 60 meters, his performance at the moment of the start made his eyes shine. Then he followed Hou Zhihui quietly, watching her throw the shot and test the standing long jump, feeling the explosive power of this "small point". The coordination of physical fitness and physical functions is not generally good.
He happily found Hou Zhihui’s team leader and made clear his identity and purpose: “I’m Li Zhiping, the weightlifting coach of Guiyang No. 3 Middle School. Your student is a good seedling. Can you do her and family’s work? Let her come to the third place. Medium weightlifting?"
"My track and field student is going to learn to lift weights, will you succeed?"
Communicating with Hou Zhihui's family, father Hou Mingqiang and mother Deng Jinxiang stated: "It is up to the children to decide whether to go or not." At that time, Xiao Zhihui only felt that weightlifting was fun, so she readily agreed.
In 2009, the 12-year-old Hou Zhihui officially came to Guiyang No. 3 Middle School to study in the weightlifting gym. She did not expect that her coach was Li Zhiping, who had brought out the world champion.
Li Zhiping's requirements are very strict. Students need to train for one more hour every morning and two more hours after school in the afternoon.
However, Xiao Zhihui is very conscious, never lazy, and even looks at the old team members and adds tasks to herself. Li Zhiping has to "warn" her often: You can't add tasks too fast!
The mass organization of Guiyang County Sports Center watched the game.
Photo courtesy of Guiyang County Party Committee Propaganda Department
Rapid progress but missed the Rio Olympics
In the second semester of 2009, the coach of the provincial weightlifting team came to Guiyang to select seedlings.
Originally, the object of investigation was two old members of the weightlifting team of Guiyang No. 3 Middle School. The new member Hou Zhihui was only watching.
But she is so active, how can she be free?
So she also lifted the barbell with the two seniors.
At that time, Hou Zhihui weighed less than 30 kilograms, and it was very good to lift up to 40 kilograms.
In daily training, her best result is 47 kg.
But this time, in front of the provincial coach, she seemed to be unable to stop, and she was up to 52 kilograms.
This surprised the provincial team coach and immediately decided: "This little student, the provincial team wants it!"
In 2012, Hou Zhihui became an official member of the Provincial Weightlifting Team.
Because she was talented and able to endure hardships, Hou Zhihui successfully entered the national team three years later.
Although Hou Zhihui was in the national team, the "little monkey" has always been in close contact with his master Li Zhiping.
Call him every 20 days to report on his studies and living conditions.
When training encounters any bottlenecks, they will take the initiative to ask the master for advice.
Li Zhiping also frequently received good news from his lover: In the 2011 National Youth Weightlifting Competition for Men and Women, Hou Zhihui stood out from many athletes across the country. With a score of 68 kg in snatch, 80 kg in clean and jerk, and a total score of 148 kg, he won the women's 14th. She won the first place in the 41 kg snatch, clean and jerk, and overall results in the 41 kg category; in 2015, she won the double championship of the World Youth Championship and the 48 kg category in the Youth Games; in April 2016, she participated in the National Women’s Weightlifting Championship and the Rio Olympic Trial. Among them, the 19-year-old won three gold medals in the 48-kg category with 94 kg snatch, 116 kg clean and jerk, and a total score of 210 kg. She became the first candidate for the Rio Olympics in this category.
Li Zhiping sighed at the time: "It is not only her dream, but also my dream to see her standing in the Olympic arena."
But just less than a week before the start of the Olympics, Hou Zhihui was unable to show off in the Rio Olympics due to his own injuries.
In Brazil, but missed the Olympics, the 19-year-old girl cried all night in the room.
For Hou Zhihui, the excitement of a whole summer was lost.
For Li Zhiping, it was a pity.
Coach Hou Zhihui, the enlightenment coach, watched the game with his younger brothers and sisters.
Photo courtesy of Guiyang County Party Committee Propaganda Department
Rising stars never stop chasing their dreams
After returning from Rio, Hou Zhihui returned to her hometown of Guiyang to rest. She was the first to call the coach Li Zhiping.
Li Zhiping rushed to the high-speed rail station and met Hou Zhihui. The thin and small "little monkey" in front of him made him feel particularly distressed.
He quickly comforted: "It doesn't matter, you are still young, there are opportunities. The National Games will be in a few months, and you have to prove yourself on the field!"
"Weightlifting is what I love most, and I will definitely stick to it. Now, my goal is the Tokyo Olympics!" Hou Zhihui's decisive answer surprised Li Zhiping.
In the eyes of her mother Deng Jinxiang, her daughter has always been strong and cheerful.
When I was young, my sister and my sister went to the field to catch fish. She was cut to the foot by the broken tiles, blood ran down to the stitches, and she didn't say a word.
She didn't mention the game, but said to Hou Zhihui softly: "Mom will always support you!"
Hou Zhihui quickly picked up her mood and returned to the provincial weightlifting team training a month later.
She actively devotes herself to professional training, training harder than usual, and has stricter requirements for technical movements.
What impressed coach Zhou Jihong was that Hou Zhihui used to brave the high temperature of nearly 40 ℃ alone to run on the playground to exercise his physical fitness, and practice basic skills daily in the training room.
In August 2017, the 13th National Games kicked off.
Hou Zhihui won the gold medal with a snatch of 93 kg, a clean and jerk of 115 kg, and a total score of 208 kg.
Li Zhiping was one of them cheering off the court.
"Seeing her readjusting to a good state, I feel excited like a spark. Watching her play in the audience is more nervous than her!" Li Zhiping said, until Zhihui put the barbell down steadily, his hanging heart finally landed.
After winning the National Games, the "little monkey" is getting better and better.
In the 2019 Weightlifting World Cup (Fuzhou Station) and the Tokyo Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the women's 49 kg class won three championships with 94 kg snatch, 116 kg clean and jerk, and 210 kg total, and broke the snatch and total results of this level. Two world records; the women's 49 kg class in the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships won three championships in snatch, clean and jerk, and the total results; the 2021 Asian Weightlifting Championships for women's 49 kg weightlifting competition, won the championship with 213 kg and set a new world record , And also broke the world record with 96 kg snatch and won the championship.
On June 12, 2021, the list of the Chinese weightlifting team for the Tokyo Olympics was officially announced, and Hou Zhihui was among them.
On July 24, 2021, Hou Zhihui represented the Chinese team in the women's 49 kg weightlifting finals of the Tokyo Olympics.
On July 24, her mother and younger brother came to Beijing to watch the game.
Grandpa, sister, and uncle were sitting in front of the TV in their hometown, Meitang Village, watching his game.
Coach Li Zhiping took her younger brother and younger sister to watch her match in the weightlifting training ground of No. 3 Middle School.
When hearing the news that Hou Zhihui won the championship, everyone jumped from their seats!
I am proud and happy for Hou Zhihui from the heart.
It is understood that after returning from Tokyo, she will immediately devote herself to intense training to sprint for the 14th National Games in Shaanxi in September!