.The performance in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier was actually dotted along with vermillion ensigns, adding a glow to the presently orangey sky rising off the reddish clay court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" dozens themu00e2 $" swaying in lively support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who would certainly quickly take gold by defeating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s songs tennis final.As she lay down on the dirt, eyes skyward as well as fists stretched into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravity seemed to be to enroll: Zheng had actually simply built the type of past that stretched far past the stadium as well as the moment. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $" as well as Zheng had made clear of the truth that the Olympics were actually as, otherwise more, significant to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic success on August 3.Picture: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team consistently feel a countryu00e2 $ s respect resides in front of individual excellence, u00e2 $ she claimed over a morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Professional athlete House, tucked discreetly between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Centre in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis area, the time after her accomplishment. u00e2 $ I dealt with [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the match, the attitude: It really felt different than every other competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started participating in ping pong at grow older 7. At grow older eight, she moved, without her mother as well as papa, to Wuhan for far better mentoring, and also given that adolescence she has deeply admired and also imitated Mandarin professional athletes, like the ping pong superstar Li Na and the jogger Liu Xiang, that won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually definitely challenging, u00e2 $ Zheng said, remembering at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mama made use of to find visit on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I would keep her leg as well as cry. When she was actually gone, I will always store her coat. This was up until I was thirteen. After 13, my mama made a decision to stop her work and also happen stay with me permanent, only to have far better development and better treatment. After that, it obtained simpler. And also we relocated to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.