.The scene in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was actually populated along with vermillion streamers, adding a glow to the presently orangey sky rising off the red clay court.These were actually Mandarin flagsu00e2 $" numerous themu00e2 $" swing in energetic support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who will soon take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s single people ping pong final.As she set on the gunk, eyes skyward as well as fists expanded in to the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravity appeared to register: Zheng had actually just created the type of background that expanded much past the stadium as well as the moment. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had actually made clear of the truth that the Olympics were as, or even more, vital to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Image: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our company consistently believe a countryu00e2 $ s honor resides in front end of private excellence, u00e2 $ she claimed over a morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Sportsmen Property, put inconspicuously between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Center in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis place, the time after her accomplishment. u00e2 $ I handled [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotional state, the fight, the attitude: It felt different than every other event Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began participating in tennis at age 7. At age eight, she moved, without her mom and also father, to Wuhan for much better coaching, and because teenage years she has greatly admired and also followed Mandarin professional athletes, including the ping pong celebrity Li Na and also the distance runner Liu Xiang, who gained gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually really difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng said, looking back at those early days. u00e2 $ My mom made use of to follow check out on weekends. When she left behind, I would certainly hold her leg and weep. When she was actually gone, I will consistently keep her coat. This was actually until I was actually thirteen. After 13, my mother made a decision to quit her job and also happen stay with me permanent, just to possess far better development as well as far better treatment. After that, it obtained simpler. And also our company moved to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.