1444 Days and nights of Wu Dajing

From Pyeongchang to Beijing, there are 1444 days and nights between Wu Dajing's two gold medals in the Winter Olympics. No one knows how Wu Dajing survived. People only know that four years later, Wu Dajing is still the absolute pillar of China short track speed skating. As long as he is on the ice, the flag is still flying.

Beijing, complete

Due to the need of epidemic prevention, the Beijing Winter Olympics has been closed-loop, and athletes have to complete 14 days of medical isolation after the game before they can leave the closed-loop area. All the expectations, glory, accidents and regrets of the Beijing Winter Olympics have been settled. There is no need to get up early to meet the training and catch up with the work schedule. This 14 has become Wu Dajing's longest holiday in recent years, and he can sleep luxuriously every day.

However, after relaxing physically and mentally, what hovers in Wu Dajing's mind is still the dribs and drabs in the schedule of the Winter Olympics. "With enough time, I used this 14 day to recall and summarize the four years of preparing for this Winter Olympics."

This pressure reached its peak on February 5. This is the first competition day after the opening ceremony. The short track speed skating mixed 2000m relay held at 9: 26pm was the first gold medal won by the China delegation in this Winter Olympics. "This is the Olympic Games held in our country. Everyone wants to win. Since it falls on our shoulders, we should assume the responsibility of being the vanguard. This kind of pre-game pressure really can't get rid of it, just against it. "

Fan Kexin, a veteran who has participated in three Olympic Games like Wu Dajing, Ren and Qu Chunyu who have participated in two Olympic Games, and Zhang Yuting who has experienced many games for the first time are not immature.

"Before the mixed relay race, everyone was under great psychological pressure. To tell the truth, we didn't really want to meet anyone at that time, because we had to talk about the game after meeting. If we can't meet at that time, it may be the best relaxation for us. "

The mixed relay was included in the Winter Olympics in 20 18. A race in which two male and two female athletes from a country skated 18 lap, fast and tight. In addition, the speed difference between male and female athletes during the handover adds more uncertainty to the short track speed skating relay race, and it is quite difficult to win the gold medal.

On the morning of February 5th, Wu Dajing and his teammates who participated in the mixed relay still gathered together to do the final training and debugging for the evening race, so the training arrangement next to the schedule was not routine. "Usually, male and female athletes train separately. This project is also very new. That morning, it was also a cold war. I think we should contact tactics together, practice cooperation, express our respective views and thoroughly analyze our opponents. "

The skating rink that day didn't disappoint them. Overcome the physical exertion of continuous competition, overcome the strong enemy who is in hot pursuit, and overcome all the thrills and accidents on the ice. On February 5th, 2 1: 37, Wu Dajing and his teammates won the first gold medal of the Beijing Winter Olympics for China. In the interview after the game, Wu Dajing choked up and said, "Today is the first day of the game, and my dream has come true." Then he hid his face and wept, unable to continue. That night, Wu Dajing was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night. Until the end of all competitions, Wu Dajing was thinking: "Winning the gold medal in the team competition is what I think is most worth showing off."

Although it is a pity that he didn't win medals in individual events, Wu Dajing described his Winter Olympics as "complete". In the ever-changing ice rink, regret is the norm, and after doing your best, you rarely meet your teammates.

1444 day and night

What has been on Wu Dajing's desk recently is Deng Yaping's new book The Force of the Heart, which was published in September 20021. "The real winner is to get things done with clenched teeth." This is a sentence in the preface of Heart of the Force, which can describe Wu Dajing's struggle in the past four years.

On 20 18 pyeongchang winter Olympics, the Chinese short track speed skating team suffered unprecedented hardships. At that time, coach Li Yan changed the name of the team's WeChat group to "tiger's mouth pulling teeth". Wu Dajing broke the world record of men's 500-meter short track speed skating with a time of 39.584 seconds, and won the only gold medal of the China delegation in the Winter Olympics with absolute advantage, becoming the only warrior who successfully pulled out his teeth from the jaws of a tiger. 20 18, Wu dajing is in excellent condition. June165438+1October 12 won the men's 500-meter final in Salt Lake City World Cup in 39 seconds, and broke his own world record in PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

"20 18 I drifted by at that time, because I was in such a good competitive state at that time. I felt like the boss when I stood on the court, but soon the injury came." Wu Dajing's knees, waist and other body parts have different degrees of old injuries. If he had followed the doctor's advice, Wu Dajing would have had reason to end his sports career.

In these four years, Wu Dajing pulled himself back to the right track from the physiological limit again and again, and then climbed from the right track to the peak. "When you are in poor health, you will also feel' fear of war' in the face of the game. I don't want to lose, and I don't want people who support me to see me lose. I don't want my opponent to see me lose. As the body improved and the competitive state resumed, this emotion disappeared again. " Four years after Pyeongchang, Wu Dajing's state was repeated at both ends of this balance, and his body and mind were suddenly tortured by this ice warrior with high hopes and great responsibilities.

In May, 20021year, Wu Dajing injured his knee while the short track speed skating team was training on the dam. "At that time, the team was in Hebei, and only me and the rehabilitation coach were doing rehabilitation treatment in Beijing." After a month of rehabilitation, Wu Dajing, who had just been able to adapt to training, immediately followed the team to resume training. "At that time, I felt that I still had hope to participate in the Beijing Olympic Games, but I was not so confident." In August, during training in Xinjiang, Wu Dajing suffered a recurrence of back injury. "At that time, I couldn't stand up at the station. I can only lie in bed, let alone train. "

It is only half a year before the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Lying in bed, Wu Dajing thinks that he may not be able to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics. "At that time, I hoped that medical miracles would appear on me. I dare not even think about winning a gold medal. I thought I would be very lucky if I stood at the Beijing Winter Olympics. "

In mid-September, Wu Dajing, who recovered from serious injuries, began to prepare for the 20021/2022 FINA Short Track Speed Skating World Cup. Three weeks later, he stood on the ice rink again, and his game state surprised everyone, including himself. "After four World Cups, I found that I am still the fastest skater in the world. At that time, I felt that I still had a chance at the Beijing Winter Olympics. "

"No one knows how Dajing came over in these four years." Wang Meng, who has always been quick-talking, can't hide his love for Wu Dajing along the way in his explanation. When Wu Dajing was in a low state, the coaches couldn't bear to blame him, and his teammates didn't dare to ask him directly about his injury. "Everyone says I'm fine, but I don't want to bear too much, for fear that I will give up. In fact, I know how my state is, but I am always reluctant to give up. "

Wu Dajing, standing at the Beijing Winter Olympics, has a the Monkey King painted on his helmet. This is Wu Dajing's favorite animated character, not only because Sun Shengda means "invincible", but also because he dares to fight hard with his opponents.

A man with a burden on his back

In Wu Dajing's dictionary, the words "country" and "team" always come before "self". From February 5th to 1 6th, 27-year-old Wu Dajing skated four events *** 13, three of which advanced to the finals of Group A, and 1 advanced to the finals of Group B, leading his team to win1gold medal. He willingly shouldered the responsibility of leading the team through the difficulties and took the lead. Every game challenges the limits of his physical fitness and state, from the first second of the battle to the last moment.

In the men's 1000m short track speed skating final of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Wu Dajing has absolute strength to compete for the gold medal. The unprecedented three athletes of China team seem to have been insured in advance for the triumph of this competition. After the first shot, Wu Dajing struggled to slide, and had firmly occupied the half-way leading position. But at this time, because the skates were broken on the ice, the referee blew the whistle of the game suspension. When the ice barrier was cleared and started again, Wu Dajing had no physical strength to rush for gold.

When the gunfire rang again, Wu Dajing patted Ren's hand and motioned for him to "go" first. He used his last physical strength to suppress his Hungarian opponent and create opportunities for his teammates to win the lead. At the end of the competition, Ren won his first individual Olympic gold medal and his first individual Olympic medal, and Wu Dajing ranked fourth. He looked pleased when he saw that his two younger brothers had no medals on the track. In the interview after the game, Wu Dajing, who had exhausted all his physical strength, turned pale and vomited involuntarily, and sincerely congratulated his teammates on their victory.

Entering the preparation period of Beijing Winter Olympics, Wu Dajing became the captain of China's short track speed skating team. From 1980' s first competition to becoming the host in 2022, the China delegation participated in 12 Winter Olympics and won 22 gold medals, of which 12 gold medals were contributed by the Chinese short track speed skating team. The short track speed skating team carries the glory and dreams of China people in winter sports, and Wu Dajing is the biggest load-bearing beam in this dream team. In the team, Wu Dajing is originally a person who likes to take care of the mood and state of people around him. He mingles with everyone, often the "atmosphere" of the team. After becoming a captain, his behavior style is not much different from before. "When the captain, or should fight with you. My mentality and everyone's mentality are no different from before. "

Captain Wu Dajing silently paid more attention to the young players who just entered the national team. "After all, the past two years are in the Beijing Olympic cycle. Sometimes, teachers will put more energy into the main athletes. Young athletes who have just joined the team may be afraid to talk about their own problems and difficulties. I will observe more in the middle to see who is in a bad mood and who needs more care, so I will do some communication work. Some of our old players will joke that after I become captain, I always deal with the coach and can't tell me anything in the future. But in fact, everyone has ideas and emotions and will still communicate with me. "

Tao Li needless to say, Wu Dajing shoulders the greatest achievement pressure of almost the whole team, shoulders the heaviest injury pressure of almost the whole team and takes the initiative to take care of his teammates. Looking back on these four years, facing the two identities of "captain Wu Dajing" and "athlete Wu Dajing", Wu Dajing gave himself full marks.

Next stop, Milan

In the last competition of short track speed skating in this Olympic Games, the Chinese short track speed skating team missed the medal because of mistakes. When the accident happened, Wu Dajing had only one thought in his mind: "Let's finish it quickly." During the distance from the stadium back to the lounge, the scenes of these four years emerged in Wu Dajing's mind.

For four years, Wu Dajing always thought that this would be his last Winter Olympics. Especially when he was tortured by injuries, the "last Olympic Games" was the biggest motivation for Wu Dajing to cross the rubicon. However, this long-simmering decision was completely shaken after the Beijing Winter Olympics. Wu Dajing decided to start again and participate in the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.

"But by participating in this Olympic Games, I see that I am still competitive in the field of short track speed skating. I am the fastest skater. Besides, my own expectations for this Olympic Games are quite high, but my performance in major events still failed to meet expectations, which is quite regrettable. Because of these two factors, I feel that if I invest well and work wholeheartedly for four years, I still have a chance at the next Olympic Games. "

Colleagues, friends and family members who have experienced the past four years with Wu Dajing have more or less "discouraged" Wu Dajing's decision. "They looked at me all the way and worried all the way. So when I decided to do it again, they told me,' Forget it,' "Wu Dajing said with a smile. "They advised me that I am quite satisfied now. I have won all the prizes, and my body is under great load. I know they don't really support me, they just think I'm not good. "

Facing the new Olympic cycle, Wu Dajing can almost foresee that the biggest difficulty is himself, and his physical and psychological load may be much greater than that in the last four years. "Since 20 18, my body has not recovered very well. I have been injured to finish the competition and training. After this process, you find that the training and competition are not effective. Next, I need to take care of my body first. "

Before entering the state of preparation for war, Wu Dajing also decided to give himself a vacation to spend time with his family. "I haven't decided where to take my parents. In fact, they think they can stay with me. It doesn't matter where to play. I think so too. No matter where you are, it is very precious for your family to get together. "

"I once thought about whether to retire after the Beijing Winter Olympics, but when I really stood on the field, I found myself reluctant to say goodbye and leave this project that I deeply loved. I will always stand on the ice rink as long as my country needs it and my body allows it. Never admit it. "

On the night of February 16, Wu Dajing officially announced that he was preparing for the Milan-Corthie Nadam Pezzo Winter Olympics in 2026. After an exhausted battle, he took the initiative to return to the familiar origin. The starting gunfire rang again, and the blade of the ice skates less than 1.5 mm drew an indomitable line. Ice is hot, but blood is not cold.

The full text was published in the summer issue of ELLEMEN New Youth.

Photography Liu Wen

Green model