The 1990s Olympics: Winning Gold for My Country

An Olympics-themed short story

In 1988, at the Seoul Olympics archery competition, South Korea took all three gold medals.

China's gold medal count: 0.

National archery coach Chen Aiguo is dejected. While taking his family on an outing near a small mountain village, he frets over where to find promising young talent.

His son, Chen Yufei, is fed up with his nagging, so he dives into the water and holds his breath.

To everyone's surprise...

On the riverbank, 13-year-old Sang Yiyi, dressed in rags, has come out of the village with her younger siblings to skip stones. When she sees a half-naked boy fall into the water, she quickly swims over to save him.

Chen Yufei: ...I've been diving for years, and this is the first time a little girl has had to pull me out.

The coach is overjoyed, convinced that Sang Yiyi is a promising talent, and earnestly urges her to join the archery team.

He even finds a straw target in the village for her.

Sang Yiyi has never held a bow before. Her heart pounds with excitement, and she thinks she really must be the genius the coach says she is.

She shakily nocks an arrow and shoots...

It misses the target completely. A crushing defeat.

Sang Yiyi: ??? That's it?

"Never mind, Coach. I'll go back to the village and help my family harvest the rice. It's the 1980s, and I need to help my family make a fortune!"

She never imagined that she would touch a bow for the first time at thirteen...

Three months later, she wins the national competition.

Four years later, at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, she represents China on the Olympic stage.

She raises her bow and shoots...

"Whoosh!"

"China's first-ever archery gold medal has been won!!!"

Core theme: Every athlete who gives their blood and effort for their country deserves a gold medal.