Xinhua News Agency, Qingdao, March 30 (reporter Zhou Xin, Wu Shuguang) looking at the disciple Sun Yang and Zhu Zhigen, who had been insisting on participating in the 1500-meter freestyle in the competition from the age of 12 to the age of 27, showed serious expression, but my heart is surging!
“I admire Sun Yang very much. He is already the Olympic champion and still works like this. He will press himself during training, and so will this competition. Originally, we didn’t want him to sign up for the 1500-meter freestyle. He insisted on participating. After all, this was his famous project. He was going to make a rush to simulate the strength of the world championship.”
Zhu Zhigen introduced that Sun Yang has been swimming 1500 meters every year except for occasional interruptions since he was 12 years old. Because 1500 meters is of great help to 200 and 400 meters, it tests perseverance more and insists on traveling in order to better prepare for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“At his age, he also participated in the competitions of 200, 400, 800 and 1500 meters, which was not in history. He served as an example for the old players! Sun Yang participated in the (TV variety show) program “challenge impossible”. In the swimming pool, we need to make him possible and become a reality.”
Four days before the start of the national championship, Sun Yang took out three gold medals and three world-first good results. Especially on the evening of 27th, when Sun Yang finished the 800-meter freestyle with a score of 7 minutes 48 seconds 03, Zhu Zhigen, who had always had a serious expression, showed a smile on his face.
“(Grades) are average, average……” He set his hands and walked out of the sight with his head lowered. But in the warm-up pool, he greeted Sun Yang with a smile and hugged him to celebrate the victory, just like welcoming the triumphant child.
Zhu Zhigen said, “This is a newly added project in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Sun Yang has won the Olympic champion of the 200-meter, 400-meter and 1500-meter freestyle, the only 800 meters is that the new project has not been taken yet. We want to strive for victory in the Tokyo Olympics.”
For Sun Yang at this stage, Zhu Zhigen’s biggest expectation is that he is in good health and reaches the peak state at the right time and place stably and orderly, instead of pursuing to create his own best result in every competition.
“At his age, we should avoid his injury and illness, and avoid early loss. In spite of this, he was still the most experienced and bitter athlete in the group, and he practiced all the players down. We will continue to be ourselves and go our own way.” Zhu Zhigen said.