Gong Lijiao of China celebrates after winning women's shot put final in the Tokyo Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, August 1, 2021. /CFP
32-year-old Gong Lijiao had been working for 21 years before winning the women's shot put gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on August 1.
Four years ago, she won her first world title, reaching 19.94 meters at the World Championships in Athletics in London, and that's already the sixth edition of the World Championships she attended.
"I have been dreaming about winning gold at World Championships and Olympics since I began practicing shot put throw," said Gong after the victory. "I did it at World Championships today and I will do better in the Olympics."
Gong Lijiao of China competes in women's shot put final in the Tokyo Olympics at the Olympic Stadium, August 1, 2021. /CFP
Gong's Olympic journey has been as tough as that of hers at the World Championships. She started well in the first Olympics in Beijing in 2008 by winning the bronze medal. Four years later in London, Gong could almost feel the touch of the gold medal when she threw 20.22 meters in the first round, but she failed to make even the top 3 after the last throw.
Though Gong received the silver medal later because the results of the first and third athletes were annulled due to doping violations, it still hurts Gong's mind.
Having become one of the world's top shot put player in 2016, Gong went to Rio de Janeiro, targeting at nothing but the title. However, every time she completed one throw, she would point at her left leg and wave her hand because she could not get full strength from her muscles.
In the end, Gong finished fourth in the competition. "There goes my third Olympics. I won't lose heart or give up because failure is part of life. I will pick up my dream and move on…" That's what she said and also what she did.
Gong Lijiao of China celebrates after winning women's shot put final in the Tokyo Olympics at the Olympic Stadium, August 1, 2021. /CFP
There was never a day when Gong threw less than 200 times or lifted fewer than 800 kilograms since 2016. It added more injuries to her body but also turned Gong into an unconquerable shot putter.
Gong reached 20.39 meters in the Chinese National Championships in June. "I think I could have done better with the last throw. I hope I won't have such regret in Tokyo," said Gong.
When she reached her personal best of 20.58 meters in the last throw at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Gong made a gesture of "first" in front of the camera. She won the gold, surpassed herself and proved what she kept saying in all these years: "Nothing values more than your dream."