China News Agency, Beijing, August 5th, title: "Netizens in this session are quite tolerant to athletes"
——Interview with Sun Yiwen, the women's epee champion of the Tokyo Olympics
China News Agency reporter Lu Yan
A touch of Chinese red on the Tokyo Olympics has become a beautiful landscape.
How do Chinese athletes "bright their swords" against powerful enemies?
What kind of new look and feel will the new generation of players bring to the audience?
Is the public's view of athletes' victories and losses more tolerant and mature?
How can athletes adapt to this "new identity" after getting hot search and becoming "net celebrities"?
Sun Yiwen, the woman's epee champion of the Tokyo Olympics, accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "China Focus Face-to-face". Starting from his personal experience of participating in the two Olympic Games, he analyzed these hot issues for everyone.
China News Agency "Focus on China" interviewed Sun Yiwen, the women's epee champion of the Tokyo Olympics.
"Bright Sword", the realm that requires the unity of human and sword
China News Agency reporter: In the women's individual epee final, you played against Popescu, the number one in the world. What is in your mind at the moment of "Jiyijian" electric light flint?
Sun Yiwen:
At first, I thought a lot in my mind.
For example, what are the skills and tactics to be used at that moment?
Should we attack or retreat?
I am better at looking for opportunities in retreat, offense is not a specialty.
But when the game was about to start, I put all these things aside and just wanted to take the initiative to move forward and press the opponent.
I stared at the fencing line closely, my mind was completely concentrated.
The moment the "Decisive Sword" movement went out, it was completely dominated by the muscle memory formed during the years of training.
After the game, I asked my teammates and coaches, what exactly did I do?
Because I don't know at all, it is my subconscious that drives the muscles and coordinates the body movements.
On the evening of July 24, in the women's epee individual competition at the Tokyo Olympics, Chinese player Sun Yiwen defeated Romanian Popescu 11:10 to win the championship.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
Reporter from China News Service: Is it necessary to have the spirit of "bright sword" who dares to fight and fight, but also to achieve the state of "with a sword in the hand but no sword in the heart"?
Sun Yiwen:
Yes, that's how it feels.
At this juncture, my person and sword have formed a unified posture.
Maybe everyone thinks that the championship and runner-up finals will be a "decisive sword" to determine the outcome. It will definitely be very nervous and think a lot.
In fact, I haven't thought about the championship or runner-up competition in the arena, nor have I thought about how to win or how to lose.
If too much consideration is given to performance, the psychological burden will be too heavy.
Reporter from China News Service: Will there be any subtle changes in mentality after winning the individual gold medal and participating in the team competition?
Sun Yiwen:
My mentality has not changed, because we have the strength and our goal is the team gold medal.
The individual competition is very uncertain. No one can guarantee the absolute strength to win the championship. The gold medal can only be regarded as a surprise.
After an individual wins gold, everyone's confidence must be doubled.
Now that we have won the individual championship, it shows that our team strength has been affirmed.
On the evening of July 24, in the women's epee individual competition at the Tokyo Olympics, Chinese player Sun Yiwen defeated Romanian Popescu 11:10 to win the championship.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
China News Agency reporter: After retiring due to injury in the team semifinals, you were in tears on the sidelines. Was it the emotion at the time, or was it a person who was easy to cry?
Sun Yiwen:
I am either a person who
sheds
tears easily, or I am more anxious at that point.
It must be anxious!
In team competitions, they are usually replaced only when they are in bad condition. Because there are very few cases of injury and replacement, I am in a hurry-I can't contribute to the team.
In fact, no matter who is on, the strength of our teammates is very even, there is no difference between superior and inferior.
So after I was replaced, everyone did not worry too much, because Xu Anqi, who came on the bench, was also an Olympic champion.
At the level, we have no worries, everyone is more worried about my injury.
We have been in quarantine since we returned to China, and we can't go to the hospital to take an MRI. At this stage, we can only do rehabilitation first.
In the past few days, the injury has been relieved, and the swelling of the knee has subsided, but it is still very painful when squatting or exerting force.
To ensure that the epidemic prevention is foolproof, even the living room is rarely visited
Reporter from China News Service: After five years of fighting for the Olympics, you and the Olympics have changed a lot, right?
Sun Yiwen: When
I entered the national team in 2013, I was in the top 32 in the country. After two and a half years of training and competition, I was able to participate in the Rio Olympics. In fact, the performance improvement is very fast, but I personally don't actually have it. Very high level.
The Tokyo Olympics is different. In the past five years, my biggest improvement has been my fencing level, rich and perfect skills and tactics. I have matured from thinking, experience to swordsmanship.
The picture shows Sun Yiwen in the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
In the first Olympics, I can't recall too many details, because I am always excited about new things, except for excitement or excitement.
The first time I participated in the competition, I didn't have any tasks. I trained carefully during training, and competed carefully during competitions. I usually have all kinds of eating, drinking, and playing.
But in Tokyo, the mentality is completely "stable".
I have a mission. I set off with everyone's expectations. I have more responsibilities on my shoulders, and I have a sense of responsibility and mission.
Of course, there is also a little more pressure.
China News Service: The prevention and control of the Olympic epidemic is the focus of attention from the outside world. What preparations did the Chinese delegation and the Chinese fencing team make in order to be foolproof? Will the athletes feel inconvenience and how to adjust?
Sun Yiwen:
We have attached great importance to protection from the start, including the Chinese team going to Tokyo by charter flights, which is relatively safe.
We strictly abide by the epidemic prevention requirements in the Olympic Village and do a good job.
Except that we don't need to wear masks in our own rooms, we must wear masks when we are doing activities in the living room of the dormitory.
There is almost no situation where a few people gather together in the living room.
Besides, I rarely go to the living room except when I have to pass by.
Including you go to the bathroom, as long as you go through the living room, you also have to wear a mask.
There are also public gyms in the Olympic Village, which are only occasionally visited when necessary. Under normal circumstances, they will not go to public and crowded places.
On the evening of July 24, in the women's epee individual competition at the Tokyo Olympics, Chinese player Sun Yiwen defeated Romanian Popescu 11:10 to win the championship.
The picture shows Sun Yiwen celebrating the gold medal.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
It is true that there will be a lot of trouble, but it is also for safety and for a smooth game.
The Olympic Organizing Committee has also spent a lot of thought, including how to fold the mask after using it, and disinfect it after returning to the room... They all taught us hand in hand.
People have done it very carefully, and we have to do it more carefully.
Reporter from China News Service: Because of the one-year extension of preparations for the Olympic Games due to the epidemic, has it brought you more difficulties or more opportunities? What impact did it have on your opponents?
Sun Yiwen: There are
more opportunities.
After we won the team championship at the 2019 World Championships, we came to a peak of state, and then there will inevitably be a decline.
Through this year's preparations, we have obtained the opportunity to continue to adjust the state.
For Chinese athletes, there will be the National Games after the Olympics, and we are not simply "preparing for one more year."
After we finish the Olympic Games, we will continue to prepare for the National Games, and we cannot completely relax.
The Olympics are connected to the National Games, and the pressure is concentrated together, but it is slightly better.
Unlike the previous preparations, I have been training in isolation during this period.
In the past, when there was a lot of stress, we could go for a walk, go shopping, and use various ways to relieve stress; but because of the epidemic, even if we rest, we can only chase dramas, watch mobile phones, and play games in our dorms, and deal with them appropriately.
Everyone is unwilling to have an epidemic, but if this is the case, we must face it correctly and try our best to look for factors that are beneficial to me in the face of adversity.
The picture shows Sun Yiwen and Popescu in the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
In fact, the epidemic has not had a particularly big impact on opponents.
According to the policy, we must be quarantined after returning to China, but many foreign players don't need it. They can move normally after returning to China.
In particular, many foreign fencers have a second career in addition to training, and work and training can complement each other.
Although they will encounter problems with venues and concentrated training, they can train at home, and Europeans are naturally strong and fast, even if they don't practice, they have an advantage over us.
"I'm nervous because you want to play seriously"
China News Agency reporter: In the Olympic Village, how do you feel the atmosphere of the entire Chinese delegation?
Sun Yiwen: The
Olympic Village is a friendly environment.
The Chinese delegation rented a building in the village, and the Chinese athletes lived together.
The atmosphere of this building is very friendly and united. Everyone will greet each other, chat about the game, and cheer and encourage each other.
When we meet familiar foreign players in the cafeteria or other places, although we can't hug and shake hands as we did before, we still walked up to greet them enthusiastically.
Reporter from China News Service: There was a saying before that Chinese athletes tend to get nervous every time they come to the competition. Isn't it that when facing the big game now, the mentality is becoming more and more relaxed and peaceful?
Sun Yiwen:
Not only Chinese athletes will be nervous in the competition, but also foreign athletes. In fact, everyone will be nervous.
Nervousness is because you want to play seriously. This happens when you get serious.
At the Tokyo Olympics, everyone may think that our performance is better than before.
I think there is another reason, that is, it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the party, and we want to use our actual actions to make a contribution to the country and do our best.
We bear the hopes of so many people and want to perform better.
In this process, it actually relieved one's own pressure.
The Chinese delegation had a good start to the Tokyo Olympics, and a good start was also an encouragement.
The picture shows Sun Yiwen celebrating the gold medal.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
After the first day of the game, I received a lot of messages, but I mainly replied to a few greetings from family and friends, and many messages were too late to reply.
I want to quickly adjust my state and seize the time to prepare for the team competition.
China News Agency reporter: What is your personal comment on the performance of the entire Chinese delegation in Tokyo?
Sun Yiwen: The
Chinese delegation includes athletes, coaches, and staff. More than 700 people arrived in Tokyo, but this is the result of systematic efforts by tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands.
Whether we have achieved good results or not, we have done our best.
Regardless of the result, as long as there are no regrets in the process, it is the best result.
Regardless of the hero's achievements, as long as everyone can come up with the greatest energy.
I can also feel that netizens in this session are actually quite tolerant towards athletes.
Many "post-00" players have achieved outstanding results.
Because they are young, they work harder and have better physical fitness. This is where we have the biggest gap; but our "post-90s" are more experienced and have a better grasp of details.
On the evening of July 24, in the women's epee individual competition at the Tokyo Olympics, Chinese player Sun Yiwen defeated Romanian Popescu 11:10 to win the championship.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
China News Agency reporter: After you won the gold medal, the foreign coach Yu Ge "lifted you up and left" and showed you the five-star red flag on the spot to celebrate. Many people were deeply moved. What kind of changes have been brought to you, the fencing team and the delegation with the help of foreign coaches?
Sun Yiwen:
This kind of feeling is mutual.
Foreign coaches come to China to coach. We treat him as a family no matter training or getting along with each other, and he is the same.
Yu Ge has completely selflessly dedicated to us the fencing he understands, from the action to the train of thought.
He has been with us for five years, and he must have been emotional.
Winning the championship is a recognition of his coaching ability and a recognition of our cooperation over the past five years.
I don't know much about other events, but for fencing, especially women's epee, we have been hiring foreign coaches, and both coaches are French.
Fencing originated in Europe. It has grown stronger in Europe and has more advanced concepts and knowledge. The older generation of fencers has made progress through tireless learning from European players.
The picture shows Sun Yiwen celebrating with team members after winning the championship.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
Fencing needs to learn a lot from Europe, we have to learn from their good ideas and receive them, plus the characteristics of our Chinese players.
The women's epee project is in this process of learning from each other, reflecting our current level.
I am not an internet celebrity, I am an athlete
China News Agency reporter: After the inheritance and development of fencers from generation to generation, can fencing become a new advantage for the Chinese delegation?
Sun Yiwen: The
Chinese team has always had a certain advantage in the field of women's fencing.
However, the characteristics of the project determine that it is not always possible to win with absolute strength.
This is a game full of games, including your state, who is the opponent you are going to meet, and the opponent's state will affect the final result.
We have the strength to win the championship, but there is great uncertainty. Whether we can fulfill our strength requires the right time and place.
China News Agency reporter: Compared with Li Ning in 1988 and even Liu Xiang in 2008, online public opinion now has less criticism of athletes and a better understanding. What does this mean for athletes?
Sun Yiwen:
Athletes can remove a certain burden.
Sometimes, the pressure of public opinion is really great, and when the results are not ideal, the athletes themselves are definitely the most sad, and guilty more than anyone else.
At this time, if someone blames him again, he may be even more difficult, and his mood will be extremely depressed.
If an athlete can represent the country, it has shown that he was the best choice at the time, and was already the best candidate.
Although the individual performance is different, it is still the best one.
I hope that the Chinese athletes who are still competing in the Tokyo Olympics can unload their burdens and don't have any worries.
Set your own goals, focus on your goals, don't consider other elements, and achieve "all in one".
China News Agency reporter: After you won the championship, you quickly boarded the hot search and was called "Gentle Royal Sister". As an athlete, how does it feel to become a popular "net celebrity" among netizens?
Sun Yiwen:
I am indeed very quiet and quiet in my life. As for "Sister Yu", it may be because my eyes are very "saucy" and fierce on the court.
My role on and off the court has changed quite a bit, bringing some surprises to everyone.
The picture shows Sun Yiwen in the stadium.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
But I think that if you talk about "net celebrities", they live more on the Internet, but I am not, I am an athlete.
What I show is who I am in real life, and the outside world will not influence my plan.
To be liked by everyone, I am willing to show myself more, but my life still has to take the road of fencing.
Athletes are full of positive energy. If we can promote the sports we are engaged in through the Internet, and spread this positive energy, especially to the majority of young people, it is a very good thing.
I recognize this kind of "flow", and we also hope that everyone can pay attention to and love sports through this kind of "flow".
China News Agency reporter: What is your plan after the quarantine is lifted next?
Sun Yiwen: After the
quarantine is over, we will immediately prepare for the National Games. There is no time to rest or go home.
After the National Games is over, I plan to accompany my family first, and then plan for my future life, such as whether to continue training, or choose to retire or get married.
But I don't want to spend my mind on this now, because my game is not over yet.
(Finish)