.The scene in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier was populated with vermillion ensigns, including a radiance to the currently orangey air emanating off the red clay-based court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" hundreds of themu00e2 $" swing in lively assistance for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who would certainly very soon take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s single people ping pong final.As she lay down on the gunk, eyes skyward and fists extended into the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravitational force appeared to enroll: Zheng had just shaped the sort of past that stretched much past the coliseum and the moment. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had made no secret of the simple fact that the Olympics were as, or even even more, significant to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic victory on August 3.Image: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, we constantly think a countryu00e2 $ s respect resides in front end of personal excellence, u00e2 $ she said over an early morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Sportsmen Residence, tucked discreetly between the Stade de France and the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis region, the day after her accomplishment. u00e2 $ I handled [the Games] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the match, the attitude: It felt different than intermittent competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started participating in ping pong at grow older seven. At age eight, she relocated, without her mama and also dad, to Wuhan for better mentoring, as well as since adolescence she has heavily admired and mimicked Chinese professional athletes, including the ping pong star Li Na and also the runner Liu Xiang, who gained gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was really difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng pointed out, looking back at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mommy made use of to follow browse through on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I would certainly secure her lower leg and also weep. When she was gone, I would regularly keep her jacket. This was up until I was actually thirteen. After thirteen, my mother determined to quit her work as well as come stay with me permanent, simply to possess far better development and also better treatment. After that, it received much easier. And our company relocated to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.