.The performance in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courthouse Philippe-Chatrier was actually populated with vermillion banners, adding a radiance to the already orangey sky originating off the red clay court.These were actually Mandarin flagsu00e2 $" numerous themu00e2 $" swaying in boisterous support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who will quickly take gold through defeating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s songs ping pong final.As she lay down on the dirt, eyes skyward and also fists expanded into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravitational force seemed to register: Zheng had only built the sort of background that stretched far past the stadium and the instant. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had made no secret of the reality that the Olympics were as, otherwise even more, essential to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Photo: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, we consistently feel a countryu00e2 $ s tribute is in front end of private results, u00e2 $ she pointed out over a morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Property, tucked inconspicuously between the Stade de France and the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis place, the day after her accomplishment. u00e2 $ I handled [the Video games] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the fight, the way of thinking: It really felt various than every other competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started playing tennis at grow older seven. At grow older eight, she relocated, without her mama as well as dad, to Wuhan for much better training, as well as given that adolescence she has profoundly admired and also emulated Mandarin athletes, such as the ping pong celebrity Li Na and also the jogger Liu Xiang, that won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually tough, u00e2 $ Zheng stated, remembering at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mom made use of to come visit on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I would hold her lower leg and weep. When she was gone, I would certainly regularly keep her coat. This was until I was thirteen. After thirteen, my mother made a decision to quit her task as well as come stick with me full time, simply to possess better development as well as far better treatment. Afterwards, it acquired easier. And also our experts relocated to Europe when I was actually 17. u00e2 $.