.The performance in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courthouse Philippe-Chatrier was actually populated with vermillion ensigns, adding a glow to the already orangey air emanating off the reddish clay-based court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" thousands of themu00e2 $" swaying in boisterous help for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that will quickly take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s songs ping pong final.As she lay down on the dust, eyes skyward as well as fists expanded right into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravity seemed to enroll: Zheng had simply forged the type of history that extended far past the stadium and the instant. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $" as well as Zheng had actually created no secret of the reality that the Olympics were as, if not even more, essential to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic victory on August 3.Image: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team always think a countryu00e2 $ s respect is in face of individual success, u00e2 $ she said over an early morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Sportsmen Home, tucked inconspicuously in between the Stade de France as well as the Aquatics Centre in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis region, the day after her accomplishment. u00e2 $ I managed [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the fight, the mindset: It really felt various than intermittent competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started playing tennis at grow older 7. At grow older eight, she relocated, without her mom and dad, to Wuhan for much better mentoring, and given that adolescence she has actually profoundly appreciated and also followed Mandarin professional athletes, including the ping pong celebrity Li Na as well as the distance runner Liu Xiang, that succeeded gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually really difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng said, remembering at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mother utilized ahead see on weekends. When she left, I will secure her lower leg as well as cry. When she was gone, I will constantly keep her jacket. This was till I was 13. After 13, my mama decided to stop her task and also come stay with me permanent, only to have far better growth and also better care. Afterwards, it received much easier. And our team transferred to Europe when I was actually 17. u00e2 $.