Chapter 4 Chapter 2 What Gymnastics Brings (3)

Then, in October 1982, the 6th Gymnastics World Cup was held in Yugoslavia.Facing many international players, every cell in Li Ning's body became excited.The documentary "Los Angeles Olympic Gymnastics Champion: Li Ning" aired on CCTV Sports Channel on April 14, 2004 introduced the situation at that time: "Some people said that this competition seemed to be specially prepared for Li Ning." Sure enough, Li Ning lived up to expectations.After the competition, the chairman of the American Gymnastics Association said to Zhang Jian: "Li Ning's performance is so good and beautiful. If the gymnastics competition does not stipulate 10 points, I will give him 10.5 points!" "Los Angeles Olympic Gymnastics Champion: Li Ning "Continued to introduce passionately: "The media and audiences all over the world saw the birth of the prince of oriental gymnastics. In all 7 events, he swept the army, and successively won the floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, horizontal bar and He won 6 gold medals in the individual all-around." This time, Li Ning really broke the myth that the Soviet athletes won the World Cup for five consecutive times."Li Ning" won 6 championships in 7 events in one competition alone, creating an unprecedented miracle in the history of gymnastics, and no one has been able to break this record. The world sports world was a sensation at that time, and no one expected this magical land in the East. The land gave birth to a 19-year-old gymnastics prodigy".Since then, Li Ning has been hailed as the "Prince of Gymnastics".The world's sports world was a sensation, and the media from all over the world began to report on this "Chinese ace", "gymnastics king" and "Little Flying Man".

In 1979, Ma Yanhong won the first world championship in the uneven bars competition of the US World Championships; in 1980, Huang Yubin won the ring championship in the 5th World Cup gymnastics competition; after the unforgettable 1982 brought by Li Ning, China Gymnastics is finally proud. On July 29, 1984, Li Ning participated in the Olympic Games for the first time. "Los Angeles Olympic Gymnastics Champion: Li Ning" introduced the situation at that time and said: "After the astonishing performance of six championships in 1982, no one doubts that he can win the championship in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. It is only a matter of how many gold medals he can win. "Zhang Jian said: "Among the athletes of that generation, Li Ning and Tong Fei had almost no rivals in the world competitions they participated in. So I am very calm in international competitions. I just sit there and don't move them. Let them compare themselves. So the foreigners were stunned, they couldn't see the Chinese athletes an hour before the game, and we only went half an hour before, so why worry, when the time comes, they will perform to the fullest on the court, and the super-level performance will shock all the foreigners." With such an advantage, Li Ning's floor exercise was the first event in the individual finals of the 23rd Los Angeles Olympic gymnastics competition. "Prince of Gymnastics Li Ning" describes Li Ning's demeanor on the field: "He took a big step, galloped forward, started with a 720-degree spin, then galloped and jumped, twirled and danced, his movements were vigorous and unrestrained, and Thomas' full spin was even more superb. In the end, Li Ning ended with a two-week somersault and stood firmly on the corner of the carpet. The four referees all showed 10 points. Li Ning blushed with joy and raised a V-shaped gesture to the audience to show victory. Running to coach Zhang Jian on the sidelines, the master and apprentice embraced each other and wept with joy." On September 11, 1984, the article "Li Ning Whirlwind" quoted the words of the American player Widmar who won the pommel horse gold medal with Li Ning: " Li Ning is the greatest gymnast ever. Among the gymnasts I have seen, his jump is the most talented and explosive. His movements are as beautiful as acrobatics, his jump is higher than others, and his landing is more beautiful than others. As a gymnast A performer of gymnastic stunts, he has reached a state of perfection." In this Olympic Games, Li Ning won 3 golds, 2 silvers and 1 bronze.

In the era of strong desire for national cohesion in the 1980s, the success in sports deeply strengthened the national pride of the people, "he has almost become a national hero, and Li Ning's name has become the loudest among Chinese athletes." name".In "Zhang Jian: Without me, there would be no Li Ning", his mentor Zhang Jian commented on Li Ning's brilliant achievements: "As an athlete, Li Ning can be said to be great." At this time, Li Ning was only 21 years old.