Wang Yifu

------China's top gun heads to 6th Olympics cctv.com 07-27-2004 14:33

Wang Yifu is one of China's greatest marksmen from the past 20 years. His talent is undeniable, but what sets him apart is his determination and drive. He has taken part in 5 straight Olympics since 1984, and he is busying himself for the 6th and perhaps his last Olympic appearance in Athens.

At the age of 44, Wang Yifu might be considered a little old to be going to the Olympics. But he's still as active as ever at the shooting range, enjoying what is perhaps the final stretch of an enviably long sporting career. He is aiming for his 6th consecutive Olympic Games this August, a record that no other Chinese athlete has matched.

Wang Yifu's shooting career has seen its ups and downs. 1992 saw his peak as a professional marksman when he won the air pistol gold medal in Barcelona. Back in 1984, he failed to win China an Olympic gold in Los Angeles, when he lost to his teammate and gold medalist Xu Haifeng and took home the bronze. His 4th and 5th Olympics in Atlanta and Sydney saw him return to China with 2 silvers, but he scared his wife, coaches and audience by fainting after the last shots.

Two decades have passed since he began his career. His Los Angeles teammates have become coaches of the Chinese team, but he is still holding the gun, and not content to be satisfied with his past achievements. Because of his poor state of health, many have said his sporting days are numbered. The stress he is under is evident, and he sometimes shows some hesitancy when making his shots. But he says that with more training, he can overcome it.

He said, "If you want good results, you must make painstaking efforts. Even after more than 20 years in the sport, I endure just as much hardship as younger marksmen. Especially prior to big events, my daily training is always more intensive than theirs."

There are many who question how far Wang Yifu can go in the Athens Olympics, since he is older and slower. He's well aware that his physical strength is no match for younger competitors, but he says his increasing composure and abundant experience are extremely valuable.

Wang spends most of his spare time now pursuing a university degree at Tsinghua University, which he says has equipped him with more reason and expressiveness. But he is aggressively eyeing his 6th Olympics and striving to set new records. He says he has every chance of bringing an Olympic gold medal home in the sport he loves.

"Shooting is what brings me delight. Whenever I have time, I go to the shooting range to practice, otherwise I feel a little bit uneasy. After a few shots I always feel relieved.鈥Wang Yifu said so.

Editor:Wang  Source:CCTV.com