.The performance in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courthouse Philippe-Chatrier was actually dotted along with vermillion streamers, including a radiance to the actually orangey air emanating off the reddish clay-based court.These were Chinese flagsu00e2 $" numerous themu00e2 $" swaying in boisterous support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that would certainly very soon take gold through defeating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s singles tennis final.As she put down on the dust, eyes skyward and also fists prolonged right into the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravitational force appeared to sign up: Zheng had only forged the type of background that expanded much past the arena and the second. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had actually created obvious of the fact that the Olympics were as, if not more, significant to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Photograph: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our company consistently feel a countryu00e2 $ s respect resides in face of individual effectiveness, u00e2 $ she said over a morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Home, tucked quietly in between the Stade de France as well as the Aquatics Centre in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis place, the day after her accomplishment. u00e2 $ I alleviated [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the battle, the attitude: It felt different than every other tournament Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began playing ping pong at age seven. At grow older 8, she moved, without her mom and father, to Wuhan for far better coaching, and considering that teenage years she has profoundly admired as well as imitated Mandarin athletes, including the ping pong superstar Li Na and the distance runner Liu Xiang, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually really difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng claimed, recalling at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mommy used to follow visit on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I will keep her lower leg and cry. When she was actually gone, I would certainly constantly hold her coat. This was actually till I was thirteen. After thirteen, my mom chose to quit her project and happen stay with me full time, simply to have better growth as well as much better treatment. After that, it got simpler. As well as we moved to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.