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Who presses Chinese athletes?
By Zhang Xiaozhou
Sohu.com
Updated: 2008-08-12 18:57
(The author, reporter from Southern Metropolis Daily)
(August 10, 2008)
The home-front is a double-edged sword. The usually strong shooters, Du Li and Zhao Yinghui at this Olympics already has shown the negative impact of pressure from ones homeland.
Du Li of China reacts during the final round of the women's 10m air rifle event of the shooting competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 9, 2008. [Agencies]
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It is known that shooting especially requires better psychological quality and willpower, and they do not need cheering but pressure-relief. However, the Chinese audience is too warm and their excitement disturbed their performance.
Du Li won the gold medal in Athens and this time some liquor manufacturer promised to offer the Chinese shooting team 10 million yuan ($1.46 million) if they won the first gold medal for China at the Olympics, certainly giving extra encouragement and pressure to Du li and Zhao Yinghui.
Let's imagine if you were her, and thousands of my countrymen are calling my name and cheering for me, how can I calm down?
If you shoot the target correctly, the large amount of money will belong to you; but if missed, you would lose the chance to touch the wealth. How can you stop your hands trembling?
And people including reporters, former coach, teammates and even your classmates are waiting at your parent's or relative's houses, how can you avoid being nervous?
Du Li' tears remind Chinese people that relief from pressure can sometimes be more important than the cheers around you.
(http://aoyunpl2.blog.sohu.com/96925811.html)