Zheng Siwei Mentor Coach: The Child Who Mastered in Just Three or Four Lessons is Now an Olympic Champion

Jayce September 6, 2024 1 0

“We are champions! We are champions! We are champions!” At 10:53 PM, thunderous cheers erupted in the tiered classroom of Wenzhou Sports School (referred to as Wenzhou Sports Academy). In the mixed doubles badminton final at the Paris Olympics, the Chinese duo Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong defeated the South Korean pair to claim the gold medal. Zheng Siwei, a former student of Wenzhou Sports Academy, secured their fourth medal of this Olympics for the school.

In the evening, the entire tiered classroom was packed! The rhythmic drumbeats stirred the atmosphere. Everyone waved their national flags, cheering for China and Zheng Siwei.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!” Every smash by Zheng Siwei triggered spontaneous cheers from the audience. Despite the air conditioning, the excitement was palpable.

First game: 21-8 Second game: 21-11

Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, the “YaSi” pair, easily defeated the Korean team.

“Not satisfying enough, it was too quick. The Chinese team is too strong. Zheng Siwei is our pride!” said a teacher.

Chen Rong, the badminton coach from Wenzhou Sports School who mentored Zheng Siwei, was away coaching at the match but did not miss his protege’s triumph. He rushed back to the hotel to watch the match. “I’ve been with him since he was in preschool, teaching him badminton until third grade. I’ve seen him grow up,” said Chen Rong. He recalled Zheng Siwei as a spirited child from an early age. “Teaching certain badminton techniques often requires repeated instruction, usually around ten times, but Zheng Siwei understood after just three or four times, mastering them very quickly.”

He shared three treasured photos from those early years. “Training was tough, and parents were always concerned, so I took them to Nanji Island for relaxation. Now, that child has grown up to become an Olympic champion. I am truly proud of him.”

After the match, Zheng Siwei admitted in an interview with CCTV that he had often imagined winning a gold medal countless times, but upon actually achieving it, he found himself speechless. This victory marks Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong’s first Olympic gold together, despite their previous dominance in various competitions. Today, their dreams have come true.

As Huang Yaqiong said, “This summer couldn’t be more fulfilling.”

Principal Han Baobin of Wenzhou Sports School remarked, “Our school has already produced athletes who have secured two golds, one silver, and one bronze in this Olympics. Whether in competition or support, we are always there! This is our fourth collective viewing event of this Olympics, and each time, we’ve added medals to our collection. Here’s hoping we can wait together for the next gold medal next time!”