.The performance in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courthouse Philippe-Chatrier was actually populated with vermillion ensigns, adding a radiance to the actually orangey air rising off the red clay court.These were Chinese flagsu00e2 $" numerous themu00e2 $" swing in lively help for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that would certainly quickly take gold through beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s singles ping pong final.As she put down on the dust, eyes skyward as well as fists extended right into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravitational force appeared to sign up: Zheng had just created the kind of record that expanded much past the arena as well as the minute. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had made obvious of the reality that the Olympics were as, otherwise more, significant to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Photo: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, we regularly strongly believe a countryu00e2 $ s tribute remains in face of individual success, u00e2 $ she stated over a morning appointment at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Residence, tucked discreetly between the Stade de France as well as the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis region, the day after her victory. u00e2 $ I managed [the Games] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotional state, the match, the mentality: It experienced different than intermittent tournament Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began playing tennis at grow older seven. At grow older eight, she relocated, without her mama and also papa, to Wuhan for better training, and since teenage years she has profoundly admired as well as replicated Mandarin professional athletes, like the tennis celebrity Li Na as well as the distance runner Liu Xiang, that gained gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually really challenging, u00e2 $ Zheng mentioned, recalling at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mom utilized to come browse through on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I would hold her lower leg and cry. When she was actually gone, I would constantly hold her jacket. This was up until I was actually thirteen. After 13, my mama made a decision to quit her task as well as come visit me full time, just to possess much better growth and also much better care. Afterwards, it obtained simpler. And also we moved to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.