What are Chinese more glad to see than gold medals?
Editor's note: Winning gold medals does not mean everything anymore in China. Gold medalist or not, Fu Yuanhui and Sun Yang, or Qin Kai and He Zi are all representatives of Chinese new generation players. With their praiseworthy performances on the field and charisma off the field, it seems everybody wants to hear their stories and root for them.
From 'go to die, Liu Xiang' to 'Don't cry, Sun Yang'
Liu Xiang kisses the hurdle after he hopped down the track to the finishing line in the heat of 110-meter hurdles in 2012 London Olympic Games, Aug 7. [Photo/IC]
The once world champion of 100 meter freestyle Ning Zetao failed at semi-finals of both 50 and 100 meter freestyle and did not say much to the reporters waiting for him. As the first Asian guy to win the gold medal in the 100 freestyle in the 2015 world swimming championships in Kazan, and four gold medals in Ichon Asian Games, and due to perfect body and cute face, Ning then became the idol of millions of youngsters. However, he began having physical problems after that and off-field issues, which contributed to lackluster performance in Rio.
Claiming himself as the king of the 1,500 meter freestyle, Sun Yang also met his Waterloo. Preparing for a showdown with Australian swimmer Mack Horton, Sun surprisingly toiled his way through his heat in the 16th-fastest time, more than half a minute off his best. Sun said he was struck down by illness after winning the 200m freestyle gold medal on Monday.
Thousands of comments expressing concern and support were left on Sun Yang's Sina Weibo account. For example, a user dengdengdawangdenvhuang said: "My king, I will always support you. See you in Tokyo!" And WY-wyangj said: "You are the best! Take care! You still have a long way to go!"
Xiaomifanlili posted Ning Zetao's photos on her weibo with the comment: Cute, persistent, brave, concentrated, you are always the best! The world under the water is quiet, so you can listen to your heart." Besides, many youngsters are more concerned with Ning's handsome features rather than his performance, and called him "national husband".
Other defending champions such as shooter Zhu Qinan, gymnast Dong Dong, diver Qin Kai and swordsman Lei Sheng all experienced a setback in this Olympics. But instead of being disappointed and blaming them, most of the users showed tolerance and respect and gave them encouragement.
However, until a few years ago, the players were judged by his or her achievements. If you won, you became the hero. If you lost, you fell into the abyss.
The same with Ning and Sun, Liu Xiang, who also stole the spotlight before the game. was in bad health condition and had sluggish performance during the game, but received quite different reactions after the match.
In 2008, during the Beijing Olympics, as the defending champion and the first Chinese track and field gold medalist, 110-meter hurdler Liu Xiang limped away from the racetrack after striding over the third hurdle with the great anticipation of the audience. On the 2012 London Olympic Games, Liu had a relapse and quit before the gunshot. Again! People were shocked and then got infuriated. Liu Xiang became the target for all overnight. The internet was overwhelmed with slanders and scolding.
When Zhu Jianhua brought home only the bronze medal from the 1984 Olympics (after he had made three consecutive world records), the windows of his Shanghai home were smashed.
When star gymnast Li Ning failed to repeat his stellar performance in the 1988 Olympics, he was turned into a pariah. The newspapers said he should "go hang himself".
Those athletes have now resigned and people are re-examing their attitude toward them.
In the days when gold medals were worshiped, nobody lived an easy life. But the good news is that, things are changing today.
From medals to personal magnetism
Emojis based on Olympic swimmer Fu Yuanhui's facial expressions are all the rage. [Photo/CFP]
Who would have thought that the biggest Chinese star to emerge from Rio 2016 will not be one of the world's fastest or most competitive. Fu Yuanhui is in a league of her own.
In one swoop the 20-year-old swimmer knocked down from the pedestal the rigidly hallowed image of the Chinese sportsman as the solemn embodiment of a nation's hope and put fun back into sports.
And she did it without knowing the aftermath - just like she did not know she had won the third place in the women's 100m backstroke semifinal on Aug 8 when she was interviewed.
The reporter seemed to prod her into an alley of cliches - excuses such as "I did not sleep well last night" or "I've been suffering from a mysterious pain all week" - to hint at a better performance in an ideal situation.
But no, Fu did not take it. She uttered something that has since turned into a nationwide meme, covered by the international press and parsed by the translation community.
Like Fu Yuanhui, jumper Zhang Guowei is also called the mud slide of the track and field. Although as he said his Rio trip ended just the time it started, it still cannot stop him becoming popular online. Many people said compared with his jumping, they would like more to see his dancing. This is because Zhang used to dance every time he crossed a certain height.
And recently his ID photo went viral and everyone started wondering: Zhang, how did you get your photo passed by the verification people?
Zhang Guowei's different ID photos. [Photos from web]
Once restrained, young players not shy about expressing love
Chinese diver Qin Kai gets a yes after proposal to his girlfriend, He Zi, at the Rio Olympics after the medal ceremony for the women's 3m springboard, Aug 14, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]
Chinese players might not be delivering their best-ever Olympic performance at Rio, but it seems they have made progress in one sport over the years - expressing their love.
In front of global TV audience, Chinese Olympic diver Qin Kai got down on one knee and proposed to teammate He Zi just moments after she won a silver medal in the women's 3-meter springboard. She said yes through tears of joy after their six-year-long romance.
"He made a lot of promises," He, 25, said of Qin's words, "but the thing that touched me the most is that I think this is the guy I can trust for the rest of my life."
Although romance was still taboo for some teams in the country until a decade ago, lovebirds are not so fresh nowadays.
Beijing Olympics shooting gold medalists Du Li and Pang Wei became the first Chinese Olympic champion couple when they married in 2009.
Lin Dan, China's two-time Olympic badminton champion, held a romantic wedding ceremony with former world top women's player Xie Xingfang in 2012.
It's a big change from the days when banning love in sports team was considered as rational and common in sports management.
Thanks to the changing attitude, Qin and He don't have to choose between medals and love.
Dejected athletes look forward to future
(L-R) Deng Shudi, Lin Chaopan, Liu Yang, You Hao, and Zhang Chenglong on the podium with their bronze medals after the men's team final in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on August 8. [Photo/Agencies]
Gymnastics, China's traditional dominant events, failed to claim a gold in Rio due to athletes' stumbles as well as stringent referee results. However, Chinese gymnasts have decided to ignore the unfair treatment and practice harder in the future.
It's the first time that China did not win a medal in individual events at a single Olympic Games. China claimed only two gymnastics bronze medals in Rio - for its men's and women's teams.
"The only mistake happened on the dismount and that's because I didn't have any energy left," said the 21-year-old Liu Yang.
Although the 2014 world champion Liu had some grievances towards the unfair marking of the referees, Liu blamed himself for losing the match.
"I will keep on practicing and I am looking forward to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020," Liu said.
China's Xu Lijia leans into a turn during the laser radial competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug 8, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]
On the sailing field, Chinese sailor Xu Lijia, who was disqualified for three rounds in the women's Laser Radial class and failed to make the finals, ended her third Olympics with unsatisfying result.
"I won't end up complaining that the officiating was unfair, although I felt pretty sad about that," said Xu, who won China's first gold medal in the event in 2012.
Three opponents filed protests against Xu, citing interference and contact with their boats, in the second, seventh and eighth races.
The event's arbitration board disqualified Xu in all three races, throwing her out of the top-10 final qualification group.
"A Brazilian sailor has taken part in six Olympics. I have only competed three times, so I will not retire and will try to take part in future Games," the 28-year-old Xu said.
Historical breakthroughs set higher goals for Tokyo
It's hard to copy China's traditional strengths, and to exploit new sport fields is even harder. Olympic breakthroughs in Rio not only bring about surprise but also reflect changes of Chinese sports. Chinese athletes have participated in more sports fields with new attitude and made historical breakthroughs.
Cycling Track
The Chinese pair compete during the women's team sprint in the Rio Olympic Velodrome, Aug 12, 2016. [Photo/VCG]
China's Gong Jinjie and Zhong Tianshi won the women's team sprint to secure China's first track Olympic gold on Aug 12.
As well as the athletes' performance, the race drew attention to the helmets of the duo, which were painted with the faces of famous Peking Opera characters, Mu Guiying and Hua Mulan.
Judo
Cheng Xunzhao celebrates after winning the bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug 10, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]
Cheng Xunzhao won bronze medal in men's 90kg judo class to mark the country's male judoist best Olympic performance.
Swimming
The 21-year-old Xu Jiayu claimed a silver medal in the men's 100m backstroke final to become China's first male Olympic backstroke medalist.
Wang Shun finished third in the men's 200m individual medley final to become China's first male Olympic individual medley medalist.
Fu Yuanhui tied for bronze in the women's 100m backstroke to become the first Chinese female backstroke swimmer on the Olympic podium.
Sun Yang secured the men's 200m freestyle gold medal and he was the first Chinese swimmer to win in two Olympic Games.
Equestrian
Alex Hua Tian won 8th place in the Olympic equestrian event and made a breakthrough in this event for China.
Rowing
Duan Jingli's bronze is the first Olympic medal for China in the women's single sculls.
Athletics
Zhang Wenxiu threw 76.75 meters to add a silver medal of the women's hammer to the bronze she won in London four years ago, achieving the best in the class.
Although Su Bingtian and Xie Zhenye, clocking 10.08 sec and 10.11 sec, were eliminated in the men's 100m semifinals, they made the best performance ever.
Dong Bin won historical bronze of men's triple jump after jumping 17.58 meters on his first attempt and failing to make a mark for the rest of the competition.
For the very first time, Xue Changrui has gained the 6th place in the men's pole vault final.
The Chinese team of Tang Xingqiang, Xie Zhenye, Su Bingtian, Zhang Peimeng was fourth in men's 4x100m relay to make the best at Olympic Games.
Synchronized swimming
Huang Xuechen and Sun Wenyan got second highest score of 192.3688 to win a silver medal in duet synchronized swimming, the team's best result at Olympic Games.
Marathon Swimming
Zu Lijun and Xin Xin both got the fourth place in the men's and women's 10km open water event, making the game's best results in Chinese history.
Taekwondo
Zhao Shuai won the men's under-58kg Olympic taekwondo title in Rio, making history to bring China's first Olympic gold medal in men's taekwondo. Zheng Shuyin of matched her boyfriend Zhao Shuai's Olympic feat when she won the gold medal in the women's +67kg taekwondo competition at the Rio Games.
Golf
Feng Shanshan clinched the first medal for Chinese golfers at the Olympic Games after the final round of women's event.
