Gao Fangjie: Understanding the Value of Health after Injury

Jayce September 6, 2024 5 0

Having just returned to competition last year, Gao Fangjie can finally rejoin high-level tournaments by the end of this year. After experiencing injury, Gao Fangjie now understands the importance of health more than ever. Throughout the long recovery process, she learned a lot about medical knowledge, gained a new understanding of competition and training, and is willing to spend a lot of time in the gym.

Playing Healthy is Most Important

How is your recovery going? Does the injured area still react after matches? Has the injury affected your movements and playing style?

My injury has long since healed! After recovering, there hasn’t been any impact on my movements and playing style. Now, I cherish the opportunity to compete even more, and my biggest wish is to play healthily and make breakthroughs in high-level tournaments.

How was your injury rehabilitation planned before your comeback? Are there any differences in your training methods after your comeback?

Indeed, experiencing a serious injury makes you understand your body better. After my injury, I was in a cast for a long time, and when it was removed, my foot was stiff. It took multiple rehabilitation sessions to recover. Now, I have some understanding of my ankle joint and muscles and can be considered a semi-knowledgeable team doctor. Due to this understanding, I pay special attention to physical training. Coach Chen (Qiu) even said the other day, “You can really move into the gym now.”

Why did you withdraw from the previous tournaments? Was it a serious injury? Does your body still struggle with continuous matches?

Sometimes, accidents happen suddenly. During warm-up training before the Finland Arctic Open, I sprained my ankle, which caused me to withdraw from several matches.

Happy to Return to High-Level Competitions

Finally being able to participate in high-level competitions means facing more top players, possibly lowering your win rate. How do you deal with this gap? What motivates you to keep going?

My first goal after returning was to break into the top 32 in the world rankings and gain entry to high-level events. The China Open in Changzhou was the first stop, and I was really happy to participate. At the time, I was an extrovert, but by the time I reached the Finland 500 and France 750 tournaments, I was definitely an introvert inside. However, I give myself enough confidence. Although there are more top players, this opportunity is something I earned. Standing here means I have the ability.

Who is the most impressive opponent in your career so far?

Carolina Marín, because of her aggressive play, is the first player that comes to mind. Also, Ratchanok Intanon—I love watching her play; her game is very smooth and enjoyable to watch.

When playing against Marín, seeing her still at her peak, do you feel envious of her recovery from injury?

Not envy, but genuine admiration. She underwent two major surgeries and is already 30 years old this year, yet she can still recover to such a high level. There’s talent involved, but it’s mostly about effort.

Which senior or junior has helped you a lot?

Wang Shixian—Shixian jie! I’ve had a lot of contact with her, and she speaks very directly, often enlightening me.

I Consider Myself an Optimistic Person

Are you more of an extrovert or introvert? Do you consider yourself an optimistic person? Especially after getting injured, have you gained a new perspective on things? Are you less persistent than before?

I lean a bit more towards being an extrovert and consider myself quite optimistic. As I get older and gain more experience, I feel my love for badminton grows stronger. As a child, I may not have thought things through clearly, like where I came from and where I want to go. But now, I increasingly understand what I need to do at each stage of life and what I love to do.

Why did you choose badminton?

When I was a kid, my parents signed me up for interest classes and hoped I would learn something elegant like rhythmic gymnastics. I actually went and trained for a month, but I didn’t like it at all, feeling from the bottom of my heart that it wasn’t for me. Unexpectedly, my rhythmic gymnastics coach’s husband was a badminton coach, and she introduced me to badminton. I found myself training happily every day!

If you could play doubles, who would you want as a partner?

Shi Yuqi. During the Badminton Super League, we were in the same club, and I often joked about partnering with him in mixed doubles.

How Do You Relax When Not Playing?

If my body reacts badly after training, I’ll go for a massage. If the weather is bad, I’ll stay in and watch some shows. Recently, I’ve been watching “Joy of Life,” and everyone says I’m old-fashioned! If the weather is good, I’ll definitely go out and enjoy nature.

If you weren’t a badminton player, what would you be doing?

I might choose to learn an instrument, but not the piano. I’d choose something like the guzheng, violin, or drums.

What do you like to eat? Recommend a delicacy from your hometown.

There are many delicacies in Nanjing. I love roasted duck and potstickers the most. Nanjing’s roasted duck is different from Beijing’s; in Beijing, it’s eaten rolled in a pancake, while in Nanjing, it’s soaked in soup and is salty. Everyone should try it if they get the chance. If I could have a meal at home with my parents, I wouldn’t be picky. Being able to eat together is the best thing.

Do you have any expertise in coffee?

I have a lot of tools: a coffee machine, grinder, capsules, instant coffee, etc., but I often don’t have time to make pour-over coffee myself. I don’t like coffee that’s too sweet; I prefer it bitter. Coffee can’t be as bitter as life!