Gong Lijiao. Photo: VCG

It was not an easy two-year journey from Tokyo to Hangzhou for China's athletics legend Gong Lijiao, for she has been dealing with the impact of COVID infection, prolonged injury and no coach's assistance. Nonetheless, she once again stepped on that top podium for women's shot put with a convincing victory, marking a 45-year dominance of Team China over the event in the quadrennial multi-sport event of Asia. 

After defending her championship once again in women's shot put at Hangzhou Asian Games, hurling a distance of 19.58m and becoming a triple winner, the 34-year-old China's No. 1 shot putter told the Global Times that Hangzhou will be her last Asian Games, and that she is aiming for Paris Olympics. 

Gong, a three-time Olympic medalist, who holds a record eight medals at the World Athletics Championships, said she was very happy to win the Asian Games gold for the third time in a row, despite her age. However, the result did not seem to satisfy her. "Anyway, my throw of just over 19.50m can be seen as an encouragement to do better next year."

Gong told the Global Times in a face-to-face interview that age as well as injuries have had a big impact on her physical condition, but she credited her on-field performance to the national team's medical staff.

"I now have to face the effects of injuries in addition to improving my technical deficiencies. For example, my lower back is now reacting after I increase my training volume," she said. "Fortunately, the national team now has a comprehensive medical team for us, with specialized physiotherapists, rehabilitators, physical fitness instructors, researchers and high-tech machines to help us."

Gong sees these as a "welfare" for veteran athletes. "It allows me to remain in top form at the age of 34."

After winning Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games, Gong completed the "grand slam" in the event, her ultimate dream. She revealed that after winning the Olympic gold medal, there were many people around who advised her to retire at her peak.

"They would say, it would be good for you to retire now, so that people can remember you at your peak," Gong told the Global Times. "But my thought is that I've come this far and I want to push my limits again."

Her latest goal is to throw 21 meters. "I am going to have to keep working on that and achieve that goal," she said. 

Gong said she hopes to compete internationally a few more times before Paris to get to know her world rivals better and motivate each other.

Since bagging gold at Tokyo Olympics, Gong has been training on her own without the assistance of a professional coach. When training herself, she also took a new role as a rookie coach to help younger athletes to improve. 

"If I spot younger athletes, I think maybe I can help them," she noted, saying that she has high hopes for the next generation of Chinese athletics. 

On the same night, the female shot put silver also went to Team China as Song Jiayuan, the Universiade champion in Chengdu last month, finished at 18.92m.

"I have high expectations for Jiayuan, who has also done very well," Gong told the Global Times. "I hope that both Jiayuan and other young athletes can continue to promote Chinese women's track and field after I retire, so that we can continue to perform well at international level."

Gong said she not only looks forward to influencing young athletes with her own story of struggle, but also hopes she can inspire more young people from all walks of life.

I hope more young people can see through my story that they should not give up when things get tough, but keep going, said the veteran, who won the gold medal only in her fourth Olympics.

"As long as I keep going, standing on the field and fighting for my country, showing the spirit of Chinese people, this is a kind of Chinese spirit," Gong said. "As long as everyone follows their dream, there will be a rainbow after the storm."