Chinanews.com Client Beijing, August 15th. Title: (Questions about East and West • Chinese Athletes) Dialogue | Shi Tingmao: Beyond the darkest moments, she becomes the "Queen of Diving"
Reporter Yue Chuan
Two Olympic Games, four gold medals.
"Diving Queen" has become another business card belonging to Shi Tingmao.
She regards diving as the love of her life, and diving is the foundation of her life.
For the Tokyo Olympics, Shi Tingmao, who is about to turn 30, became the second athlete after Guo Jingjing to win 4 gold medals in women's singles and doubles 3-meter springboard in the two Olympics.
However, behind this glory is full of pain and bitterness.
"It is never the Olympic gold medal that makes people stronger, but the road to the Olympic gold medal." After the darkest moment, Shi Tingmao told the world.
In a recent conversation with Sino-Singapore Sports, the "diving queen" shared her journey along the way and her beautiful vision for the future.
Tokyo Olympics, long-cherished wish
China-Singapore Sports: The Olympic Games have been over for some time. Looking back now, how do you feel?
Shi Tingmao: It is not easy for this Olympics to be held. First of all, we must thank the host for giving us the opportunity to show the value of life.
In this Olympics, I played my level.
After coming to Tokyo, my condition is much better than before.
Although there are no spectators in the game, the impact will not be great. I can feel the support of the Chinese team from the people of the motherland in my heart.
Shi Tingmao also became the second athlete to win 4 gold medals in women's singles and doubles 3-meter springboard diving in the two Olympics after Guo Jingjing, the "Queen of Diving".
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
In fact, before I set off, I vowed to myself that I would play the national anthem at the Tokyo Olympic Games. This is also the main purpose of my trip.
Sino-Singapore Sports: When your wish is fulfilled and the national flag is raised and the national anthem is played, how do you feel when standing on the podium?
Shi Tingmao: It's much calmer than I thought. I thought I would be unable to control myself and keep crying.
But at that moment, I will enjoy that feeling very much.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Diving "Dream Team" has won 7 gold and 5 silver this year. As a leader, how do you evaluate the performance of the team?
Shi Tingmao: This is the result of our unremitting efforts over the past five years. It is not easy.
Our entire team is very united, working hand in hand towards the same goal. This honor belongs to everyone in the team.
The prerequisite for the success of the Chinese diving team is hard training, which is the foundation.
The "Dream Team" is the team closest to the championship. We carry the pressure to hit the championship every day, which is also a motivation.
The young players in the team are also very good, like Zhang Jiaqi, Quan Hongchan, and Chen Yuxi. Their starting point is very high and I am envious.
Because at their age, I did not reach a similar height.
In the women's platform diving finals, the 14-year-old Quan Hongchan got full marks in 3 of 5 moves, and finally broke the world record with a score of 466.20, leading the foreign player with the highest total score by nearly 95 points.
For them, the Tokyo Olympics is just the beginning.
I hope that on the road in the future, they can keep their original intentions and train hard on the ground.
Sino-Singapore Sports: A group photo of three "diving goddesses". This is one of the famous scenes of this Olympic Games. Do you remember the scene at that time?
Shi Tingmao: It was after the awards ceremony. When I was about to be interviewed, I suddenly saw Sister Guo (Guo Jingjing) there, so I couldn't help running over to hug her.
When I watched Guo's competition when I was young, I felt that she was very good, and she was always able to stand on the highest podium.
She is my role model, and I also hope that I can contribute to Chinese diving.
Now that I have done it, I really want to share this joy in my heart with her.
I think that while watching our game, Sister Guo will also think of who she used to be.
She is here, so she feels the same.
Guo Jingjing and Chen Ruolin.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
In this Olympics, Sister Guo gave me a lot of encouragement, and Chen Ruolin also helped me a lot.
I hope that, like them, even if one day I cease to be an athlete, I can continue to do something for diving.
Through the darkest moments, life suddenly becomes brighter
Sino-Singapore Sports: After you won the gold medal in the singles three-meter springboard, how did you feel at that time?
Shi Tingmao: I have high demands on myself. Sometimes even if I get the gold medal, I am not satisfied with my performance. I always face every game with this mentality.
For me, the true feeling at that moment is a kind of emotional release after being depressed for too long.
Because of the epidemic, we were in a closed state last year and had no contact with the outside world.
This makes me a little uncomfortable, from emotions to physical and mental.
Coupled with the postponement of the Olympics, it was a very dark stage in my life.
I am suffering every day, but I have to keep training and take the lead. I am in a very poor state, and I can't find the direction and goal of my efforts.
Fortunately, the leaders, coaches, and teammates have always been by my side.
Sino-Singapore Sports: How did you cross this darkest moment? I believe this experience will also be of reference to others.
Shi Tingmao: Personally speaking, it means to rethink.
I asked myself: "Why are you doing this? What is your goal?"
Before you do everything, you need to ask yourself clearly.
Only after I want to understand, when facing difficulties and grievances, I will not complain.
The picture shows Shi Tingmao (right) crying after winning the championship.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
To me, the strength of the team is also very important.
Our team is very united and the training atmosphere is very good. The most common word we hear from each other is "Come on".
During this process, I was deeply impressed by two passages.
Many beautiful things in life need to be repaid with loneliness, but the premise is to endure loneliness.
You have to eat the bitterness that others can't eat, and more importantly, you have to endure the anger that others can't bear.
If you want to do extraordinary things, you must first endure what ordinary people can't bear.
To understand this, I suddenly understood.
Sino-Singapore Sports: What do these experiences mean to you?
Shi Tingmao: In the past two years, I have accumulated a lot.
During these painful days, I learned to endure, learn to accept, and learn to reconcile with myself.
The state I seek now is to make myself calmer and more suitable for the environment.
It's not a bad thing to go through these things.
It gave me a deeper understanding of life and life.
She is a "philosopher" and a "queen"
China-Singapore Sports: How has your life in isolation recently? Has your waist injury improved? Will I be uncomfortable if I can't touch water during this time?
Shi Tingmao: Living in isolation is very comfortable.
I have time to chat with friends and share my experiences and feelings during this time. I am very happy.
As a diver, strictly speaking, you must touch the water every day.
For example, if I don't touch the water for two or three days, the training feel will be different.
But now is a special period, so during the isolation period, I will do some stretching and strength training in the room, focusing on recovery.
At the Tokyo Olympic Games women's singles 3-meter springboard diving award ceremony, the Chinese team swept the gold and silver medals.
The picture shows the gold medalist Shi Tingmao (left) and Wang Han (right) holding the national flag.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
During this period of time, the amount of exercise is not large, and the waist injury is within the controllable range, so don’t worry.
Because of the relationship between age and injury, my recovery speed is not as fast as that of young players, so I have to slow down a bit.
Zhongxin Sports: Many fans have been paying attention to your performance. Have you seen your comments?
Shi Tingmao: First of all, I want to thank you all for your continued support.
I know that everyone cares about me, such as injuries, future plans, etc.
Some fans also left me a message, hoping that I would share more of my life in isolation.
People usually encourage me through private messages. Every time I read it, it makes me feel that I am not alone in the fight.
You can leave me more comments, I will read it when I have time.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Do you know that you have been awarded the title of "Philosopher"? Because your answer is always philosophical.
Shi Tingmao: Everyone speaks highly of me, and I think this is a responsibility.
I hope I can pass on positive energy to everyone. This is what I have always wanted to do.
Nowadays, young people are under great pressure. I feel that on the road of life, we still need to muster courage.
In fact, it's not a big deal. Sometimes you can get a lot of gains by pushing yourself.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Fans call you the "Queen of Diving", what do you think about this?
Shi Tingmao: This also represents a responsibility.
I love diving and this career.
In my opinion, attitude determines responsibility.
On August 1, in the women's singles 3-meter springboard diving final of the Tokyo Olympics, Chinese star Shi Tingmao successfully defended his title.
Image source Visual China
Once again, I will choose to dive
Zhongxin Sports: I can feel that you have a heartfelt love for diving. How does it move you?
Shi Tingmao: I switched from gymnastics to diving, and I didn't know how to swim at that time.
I was very impressed. The coach taught me how to swim in just 10 minutes, and then slowly started diving.
When I was in my teens, I started to go out to compete, and when I won the championship on behalf of my hometown, I felt a sense of accomplishment.
Accumulation over time has made me firm in the direction of the next step and have more confidence in myself.
Later, when representing China in international competitions, one can directly feel the sense of honor and mission from the competition, as well as the sense of accomplishment that is difficult to obtain from other places.
Sino-Singapore Sports: After going through ups and downs, have you ever thought of giving up?
Shi Tingmao: Yes, especially during the difficult and dark days last year.
In fact, it is very difficult for a person to do one thing in his life, and to achieve it to the extreme, and then get a sense of accomplishment from it.
Since there is such an opportunity, it should be cherished.
I love diving and have given all my youth for it. I don't want to be a person who gives up halfway.
On July 25, local time, Shi Tingmao (left) and Wang Han at the award ceremony.
On the same day, the women's double three-meter diving final of the Tokyo Olympics was held at the Tokyo Aquatic Center. Chinese combination Shi Tingmao and Wang Han won the gold medal with 326.40 points.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
China-Singapore Sports: What does diving mean to you?
Shi Tingmao: Diving has laid a good foundation for my life.
It provides me with a platform for me to discover where the value of my life lies.
I am very grateful for myself to be able to embark on this path of diving.
If you give me another chance, I will still choose to dive.
Family, Aurora, this is the future in her eyes
Sino-Singapore Sports: After the quarantine is over, what plans do you have outside of training?
Shi Tingmao: I should go home to visit my parents. I haven't seen them for a long time.
I am very grateful to my father and mother for their continued company.
In fact, many times, I am not by their side, 365 days a year, maybe not even 5 days together.
But they have never complained and have always understood and supported me very much.
Sino-Singapore Sports: How do you stay at the top? What are your goals in the future?
Shi Tingmao: Persistence, focus, and self-discipline. If you want to maintain a good competitive state for a long time, I think these three points are very important.
When you have achieved achievements and honors, there will be a lot of temptation to follow, then you must hold yourself.
As for the future, I still set a small goal first to complete the National Games.
On August 1, local time, in the women's singles 3-meter springboard diving final of the Tokyo Olympics, Chinese star Shi Tingmao successfully defended his title.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
Zhongxin Sports: What are your hobbies and what do you like to collect? What other wishes are on your life list?
Shi Tingmao: Collecting gold medals is considered one (laugh).
I like traveling very much, but I don't have time now.
I want to discover new and novel things in this world, which can bring me satisfaction.
Although I will go to various places to participate in the competition, but due to safety and other issues, the hotel and the stadium are basically two points and one line, so I will be more regretful.
If I have a chance in the future, I would like to see Aurora, which is a very important item on my life list.
In addition, I hope to find a partner who fits me well.
As for the standards, it is also important to be more sunny, responsible, sincere and frank.
Sino-Singapore Sports: He Zi's marriage proposal is one of the famous Olympic scenes. Is this what you yearn for?
Shi Tingmao: I may not be the same, I prefer to travel and get married.
This kind of thing has to go with the flow, but I am looking forward to a bright future.
(Finish)