.The scene in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier was actually dotted along with vermillion banners, incorporating a radiance to the presently orangey air rising off the reddish clay-based court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" manies themu00e2 $" waving in energetic help for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who would certainly very soon take gold by defeating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s songs ping pong final.As she put down on the gunk, eyes skyward and also fists expanded in to the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravity seemed to sign up: Zheng had actually simply shaped the kind of background that stretched much past the stadium and also the instant. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had created no secret of the fact that the Olympics were as, if not more, important to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Image: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our company constantly strongly believe a countryu00e2 $ s tribute resides in face of private success, u00e2 $ she stated over an early morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Property, tucked inconspicuously in between the Stade de France as well as the Aquatics Center in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis area, the time after her victory. u00e2 $ I treated [the Games] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the match, the mindset: It felt different than intermittent competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began participating in ping pong at grow older seven. At grow older 8, she relocated, without her mother and also dad, to Wuhan for far better mentoring, as well as since teenage years she has actually greatly admired as well as replicated Chinese athletes, such as the ping pong star Li Na and also the jogger Liu Xiang, who succeeded gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was really difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng mentioned, recalling at those early times. u00e2 $ My mom made use of ahead check out on weekends. When she left behind, I will secure her leg and also weep. When she was gone, I would constantly keep her jacket. This was actually until I was 13. After thirteen, my mama decided to stop her project and come stick with me full-time, just to have far better development and also much better care. After that, it acquired easier. As well as our company relocated to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.