[Explanation] On August 26, in the women's 41 kg weightlifting competition at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, China's 32-year-old mother-level contestant Guo Lingling won the sixth gold medal for the Chinese delegation in this Paralympic Games.
She was only exposed to weightlifting at the age of 21. What kind of story does she have on the road to championship?
Recently, Guo Lingling accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service through video linking.
[Concurrent] Chinese weightlifter Guo Lingling
In fact, I am still not sure that I can win the Paralympic Games, it feels like a dream.
[Explanation] On the same day, Guo Lingling successfully lifted 108 kilograms, setting a new world record and winning the gold medal.
Guo Lingling was very happy to participate in the Paralympic Games for the first time to win a gold medal and set a world record.
Coincidentally, the day before the competition was her 32-year-old lunar birthday, and winning the gold medal was her birthday wish.
[Concurrent] Chinese weightlifter Guo Lingling
When I posted to Moments, what I thought was "whatever I want and what I want." At that time, the wish I made was to hope that I could achieve good results on the 26th and break my record.
This is already my best birthday present.
[Explanation] At the 2018 Jakarta Asian Paralympic Games, Guo Lingling won the 45kg championship with a world record.
In this competition, her goal is also to refresh her own world record.
[Concurrent] Chinese weightlifter Guo Lingling
I feel that I have stood in the World Cup, World Championships, Asian Championships, and Asian Paralympic games before. This is the most important one for me. This time (playing) the national anthem is meaningful to me. It is not the same, it is equivalent to it has completed all the results of all my competitions.
[Explanation] However, such an athlete who has repeatedly won the "highlight moment" has also experienced ups and downs.
Guo Lingling is from Handan, Hebei. In 2010, at the age of 21, she started to lift weights. During training, she started a family and became a mother in 2014.
Four months after giving birth, she weighed 57.5 kilograms and began to perform comeback training.
[Concurrent] Chinese weightlifter Guo Lingling
I lost 16 kilograms in three or four months.
My coach, he asked me to walk around the Hebei Disabled Persons’ Federation in the morning and evening every day, and then eat the same meal and lunch in the morning as before. For dinner, I would eat a little bit of vegetables and not eat any meat. Say me, take a sip when you are thirsty, not like others.
[Explanation] In addition to normal training, Guo Lingling also needs to practice on the treadmill.
Because of the inconvenience of her legs, she had to hold on to the handrails on both sides to get on the treadmill. After a long time, her shoulders would be very painful.
[Concurrent] Chinese weightlifter Guo Lingling
If I can’t stand the shoulder, I’ll hold the crutches, and it’s standing there. After it’s mounted, my arms will sometimes get very painful after a long time. If I walk for a while, I will put the crutches next to me. I started to walk with the armrest again, and just alternate back and forth like this, I started from the first 5 minutes, 8 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, so I added 40 minutes, 50 minutes, 1 hour, and I was just like that. Stick to it for three or four months.
[Explanation] In her words, "I'm holding back my energy and want to change my status quo."
She told reporters that weightlifting made her feel hopeful in life.
[Concurrent] Chinese weightlifter Guo Lingling
Before I learned this, I was relatively inferior, and then I didn’t go to college. The first money I made was actually the bonus given to me by our city after I participated in the competition.
I feel that lifting weights allows me to find the value of my life.
[Explanation] Guo Lingling hopes that she can maintain her state, continue to break through herself, and win another Olympic champion.
[Concurrent] Chinese weightlifter Guo Lingling
In fact, there is a personal signature in my circle of friends: "Don't just find a reference, just fall into peace." I feel that this sentence is very motivating to me. We must be positive in life, and we must keep our own. Mentality.
[Explanation] Because she has been preparing for the Olympics, Guo Lingling has not seen her children for a year and a half. She told reporters that after returning to China, she will go home to accompany her children as soon as possible.
Reporter Liu Chao reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】