China News Service, Beijing, February 13 (Reporter Liu Xingchen) When a person devotes himself to pursuing what he loves, age will never be a stumbling block.
The 2024 Doha World Swimming Championships are underway. Among them, a centenarian man attracted the attention of the whole world.
Prepare to take off, jump into the pool, and stir up waves... Taghi Asgari from Iran completed an almost impossible thing at the age of 100.
To him, age is just an inconspicuous number.
Image source: World Swimming Federation video screenshot
Also at this World Championships, Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle swam a time of 46.80 seconds in the competition, breaking the men's 100-meter freestyle world record. Born in 2004, he is still under 20 years old. On the stage of the World Series, there are countless young people who have achieved great results repeatedly.
At the other end of time, Taji Asgari is also writing his own legendary story in his own way.
After performing a one-meter platform dive for a global audience, the centenarian received the gold medal from the president of the World Swimming Federation.
Looking at this "supreme honor" worn on his chest, Taji Asgari couldn't hide his tears and applauded emotionally. This applause is a gift he gave to himself.
Image source: World Swimming Federation video screenshot
The photo album of time keeps turning, recording this old man's obsession with diving.
73 years ago, the first Asian Games in history was held in New Delhi, India. In the competition, Taji Asgari won one silver and one bronze.
"When I participated in the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951, Iran's diving level was very high and I won two medals." Taji Asgari recalled.
According to FINA records, that competition was the starting point for Taj Asgari to enter the international arena.
"By the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran, Chinese athletes had joined the diving event. They were progressing very fast and we couldn't catch up." Talking about Chinese diving, Taji Asgari said.
During his career, Taji Asgari once made a mistake and was temporarily blinded. But just a week later, he returned to the competition and won the gold medal.
Image source: World Swimming Federation video screenshot
As the first competitor to perform an armstand somersault, Taj Asgari opened up new possibilities for the sport. It wasn't until the age of 41 that he chose to say goodbye to the game.
At that time, he would not have thought that more than half a century later, when he was a hundred years old, he would still be able to complete a wonderful jump by the swimming pool.
When asked about the secret of his persistence in diving for nearly a century, the old man's answer was concise and concise: "Only love. From my youth until now, I have always loved diving and it has never changed."
For young players, Taj Asgari advised: "The only thing I want to tell you is that I love this sport. Being involved in it keeps me healthy. This can be a good motivation for you to participate in championships." (End) )