In a landmark victory for Asian tennis, Zheng Qinwen, a 21-year-old tennis player, carved her name in the annals of Olympic history.
On Saturday, she achieved the
Zheng’s journey to the pinnacle of Olympic tennis was nothing short of extraordinary. Her path to the final was paved (铺路) with
The final match
The significance of Zheng’s win extends beyond the tennis court. Her
As
Zheng Qinwen’s historic win will undoubtedly inspire great interest in tennis among Asia’s youth.
Here are two athletes who are masters in their sports and also set
Lang Ping, as a player, brought honour and glory to her country. As a coach, she led the China women’s volleyball team to
Michael Jordan, who became known as “Air Jordan”, changed basketball with his graceful moves and jumps. His skills were
3 . Gabby Douglas was just 16 when she caught the world’s attention at the 2012 Olympics where she won gold in the all-around event. From her early days on the gym floor to her life after finding Olympic fame, the transformation (改变) of Gabby Douglas has been quite the stunning one indeed.
Gabby Douglas’ talent for gymnastics was apparent from a young age. At the tender age of three, the younger Douglas was turning cartwheels. Just two years after beginning her formal gymnastics training. Douglas won Virginia’s state gymnastics championship. She racked up more wins over the years, and it was soon evident that she wasn’t just a talented gymnast, but a possible Olympic competitor.
At the age of 14, Gabby Douglas knew that for her to make it to the Olympics, she needed a change. She’d already been homeschooled for years to focus on her training, and she set her sights on training with Liang Chow, a coach who has worked with Shawn Johnson. But Chow’s gym was in West Des Moines, Iowa — not exactly within commuting distance of her home in Virginia. Moving halfway across the country was not easy for the young Gabby Douglas. She felt seriously out of place as one of few black people there.
Douglas also felt much anxiety about chasing her Olympic dream. It would be years before Douglas opened up about the fears she faced on her road to the Olympics. She once said, “When I started this journey, I never knew what it took to get to the Olympics. I had a lot of self-doubt…You have to believe that you’re good enough and not give up.”
Douglas eventually found the determination to stick with her dream, no matter how tough the journey. Not only did she help her team win gold, but she also won gold in the all-around — making her the first black woman to do so. She said, “It was just insane knowing that I had spent my whole life dreaming about this one specific goal and achieved it.”
1. What made Douglas decide to have a change at 14?| A．Her Olympic dream. | B．Her talent for gymnastics. |
| C．Her desire to train with Liang Chow. | D．Her tiredness of being homeschooled. |
| A．She thought she was not talented enough. |
| B．She had to compete with Shawn Johnson. |
| C．She was unable to adapt to the training in Iowa. |
| D．She was uncertain about how to get to the Olympics. |
| A．Talented but crazy. | B．Fearless but bad-tempered. |
| C．Optimistic and determined. | D．Committed and independent. |
| A．Care and diligence bring luck. | B．A good beginning is half done. |
| C．Ups and downs make one strong. | D．Where there’s a will, there’s a way. |
4 . After moving to the United States in 1901, 19-year-old Bob Douglas found a job as a doorman in New York. Later, a co-worker took him to visit a basketball court, and he was amazed by the athletic prowess on display. At that moment, Douglas, who had enjoyed playing sports as a child, was determined to create a basketball team and provide greater opportunities for New York City’s Black athletes.
He needed to find a place for his team to play. When asking a ballroom owner, William Roach, for permission to use one of the dance floors, Douglas was replied with “you guys will break up my place”. After promising to take on all the financial risk, he finally persuaded Roach to change his mind and called the team “Rens”.
However, their ballroom had fewer seats and attracted fewer people than others, so Douglas had to pack the house to generate profits and keep his team alive. They traveled the country playing any opponent that would agree to schedule them, during which they repeatedly faced discrimination and unfair treatment and the players were often banned from hotels and restaurants.
No matter the obstacle, the Rens just kept strict practicing. They helped change the game of basketball by focusing on quick passing, which let the players move faster, play a more fluid (流畅) game and keep winning. In 1925, the Rens shocked the world by defeating the Original Celtics, the most dominant team of their day. During the 1932-33 season, the team won 88 straight games, a professional basketball record that remains unbroken.
Unfortunately, the Rens disbanded (解散) in 1949. But in time, they were recognized for the important role they played in advancing Black athletes in basketball, ensuring that although the Rens aren’t a household name, their story will never be forgotten.
1. What inspired Douglas to establish a basketball team?| A．His desire to show his athletic strength. | B．A motivation to learn Black culture. |
| C．His intention to earn a good income. | D．An experience to a basketball court. |
| A．To solve financial problems. | B．To improve basketball skills. |
| C．To fight for accommodation. | D．To play with excellent players. |
| A．Making competition rules. | B．Speeding up the game. |
| C．Defeating the professional team. | D．Creating an unbroken record. |
| A．A winner is one with a willing heart. | B．A high reputation will work wonders. |
| C．Success makes personal desires satisfied. | D．A man owes success to the team support. |
