Zou Jingyuan of China competes in the artistic gymnastics men's parallel bars final at the Tokyo Olympics at the Ariake Gymnastics Center in Tokyo, Japan, August 3, 2021. /CFP
The parallel bars gold medal Zou Jingyuan won at the Tokyo Olympics earned him the nickname "King of Parallel Bars," and he's considered a once-in-a-generation gymnast. But Zou believes that no matter how talented an athlete is, it takes hard work to turn that talent into success.
Zou won a world title at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Montreal in 2017 and dominated the event again in 2018 in Doha. Three years later in Tokyo, he won the parallel bars final with 16.233 points, which was almost 0.5 more than the score of the silver medalist and more than enough for an absolute lead.
Zou said he felt "relieved" when asked how he felt about his performance in Tokyo. "I can't say I gave my 100-percent best while practicing for Tokyo; it was more like 70 percent," said Zou in an interview with China News Service (CNS).
Having claimed his first world championship at 19, Zou said winning an Olympic gold medal became a must-do for him and people around him had similar expectations. However, he tossed all those expectations and pressures away the moment he entered the Olympic venue because every gymnast is competing against himself.
Zou Jingyuan of China in the artistic gymnastics men's parallel bars final at the Ariake Gymnastics Center, August 3, 2021. /CFP
Zou told CNS that he did not care much about the nicknames people gave him. "One day I will be unable to win the title and that's when I'll no longer be the 'God of Parallel Bars.' So when they call me that, I think I'm nothing but a regular athlete who needs to continue to work hard," said Zou.
Working hard has already become a part of Zou's life. He only spent two nights at home in the 10 years before the Tokyo Olympics.
"Gymnastics is different from other sports, it requires you to practice every day in the gym, both athletes and coaches as well," said Zou. "But if I can perform better than others after practicing more, I will do it."
Zou believes that gymnastics changed him by making him stronger, both physically and mentally. In his youth in Sichuan, he was upset because coaches kept asking him to practice fundamental moves. It took him years to understand that haste makes waste.
Zou's next goal is to help China win the men's team gold in artistic gymnastics in Paris in 2024.