Close-up of characters in Zhang's works

Some people say that Zhang became an athlete because he lost weight, but his father denied this statement.

"The main reason is that he is in good health," Zhang Tan said. "When he was in middle school, he grew to 1.8 meters, and the sports school chose him to practice rowing."

In Zhang's hometown of Shenqiu and Zhoukou, water sports are the strengths here. Mu Suli, who once won the Asian Games rowing championship, is from Fugou, Zhoukou. If all goes well, maybe Zhang can paddle into the Olympic Games. But after 1 1 years old, Zhang's height began to soar. 1998 reached1.95m and weighed120kg, which was obviously not suitable for rowing. So, Zhang came to the boxing team under the Yuzhong Sports Center.

At that time, the director of the provincial heavy body center recalled that when Zhang Gang came to the boxing team, he had a lot of meat on him. "We all call such people' water and fat', which means less muscle and more fat. But it is difficult to find a big-level boxer, because most tall and fat people are lazy, and boxing requires high physical flexibility. " It is because of Zhang's flexibility that he was kept in the boxing team. After a period of training, Zhang's proud flesh has been replaced by a strong "muscle", and moving, punching and dodging are very similar.

Escape from the sports team

1998, Zhang, who was only 15 years old, went from a water rowing team without physical confrontation to a boxing team that often beat people or was beaten.

He was very upset at that time. "Hard training is on the one hand, engaging in competitive sports, no matter which sports team you are in, you must suffer." Cui Qing, an athlete and coach at that time, said: "Zhang has no boxing foundation. I'll let the 60-or 70-kilogram player fight him first. He is big and fights almost the same, but at first Zhang will still be beaten to tears. " Being beaten often made Zhang feel depressed, so he thought of a good way-sneaking away.

Isn't it a pity that such rough jade ran away? Coach Gu Jinqing was extremely anxious, but he couldn't find anyone anywhere and didn't go back to his hometown in Shenqiu. Losing someone is no small matter. Zhang's father rushed to Zhengzhou from Shenqiu and finally found him at a friend's house. Sun Heping, director of the center, coach and father took turns to enlighten and persuade Zhang and brought him back to the boxing team.

Smart and bold since childhood

According to coach Gam Wa Goo, Zhang is not only in excellent physical condition, but also smart and clear-headed. He is a born boxer.

"Boxing can't just rely on brute force, it will only lead to beatings." Gam Wa Goo thinks that Zhang's cleverness lies in that he can always use his own advantages to attack his opponents, and he knows when and what tactics to use. "If he is fashionable, then his game reading ability is very strong."

There is no lack of cleverness in Zhang's life. Yan Li gave an example. When he first arrived at the Weight Center, he heard that Zhang likes to play poker, and he plays well. Yan Li once passed by the athletes' dormitory. "I don't know why, Zhang threw the poker from upstairs and had a good time." The poker just landed on his head, and Yan Li shouted, "Come down." "Several other honest and timid people have come down, and Zhang Ruo has nothing to do with hiding. Until he finally can't hide, he finally stood up." Yan Li said with a smile: "From another perspective, generally naughty children are not stupid when playing cards."

The budding reeds have attracted people's attention.

In 200 1 year, in order to train young athletes, the center for heavy sports invited Zhang, who had just trained, to participate in the Ninth National Games.

"I just want him to see the world and gain some experience," Yan Li said. But what people didn't expect was that Zhang, who participated in the domestic competition for the first time, actually passed the test and hit the third place all the way.

The appearance of Zhang made the domestic boxing world shine, with a height of 2 meters, a wingspan of 2 meters 1 1 and a flexible pace. "It's a machinable material!" Yan Li recalled the opinions of some boxing experts at that time. At the same time, this competition also made Zhang full of confidence in himself and gained a new understanding of boxing. "I didn't know much about boxing at first, but I just felt that at least I wouldn't be bullied when I went out. After practicing for two years, I like this sport more and more. Through the Ninth National Games, I also saw hope. "

Almost abandoned by the Olympics

After the Ninth National Games, Henan Provincial Center for Heavy Sports decided to make Zhang a "star". So, under the guidance of coach Gu Jinhua, Zhang began "devil training". Like all successful people, after hard training, Zhang finally became famous at the National Tenth National Games in 2005 and won the +9 1 championship.

Even after winning the championship, Zhang and Gam Wa Goo never wanted to take part in the Olympic Games. "China boxing has made a breakthrough in the world in recent years, and it is a small level in Zou Shiming. To a large extent, no one even thought of this, "Yan Li recalled. At that time, there was a great controversy about Zhang in China boxing. "Some people think that there is not much difference between China people and Europeans and Americans in terms of lightweight; But the heavyweight is different, so it is difficult to catch up with others, which is a bit like the difference between China's tall basketball player and O 'Neill.

However, based on the Henan Center for Weight-Building, Zhang is 2 meters tall, with long arm span, flexible body and good conditions, so he should give it a try. Yan Li said, "At that time, everyone cited the example of Liu Xiang, and there were swimmers and rowers. Finally, to quote an advertisement from Li Ning, "Everything is possible", China people can also create miracles. "

The conclusion of the argument is that Zhang is listed as the breakthrough of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. "However, no one knows whether we can enter the Olympic Games. After all, this is the first time, "Yan Li said.

It's the Olympic boxing quota

According to the usual practice, the International Boxing Association gave the Olympic host six finalists. "These six places can directly enter the Beijing Olympic Games without qualifying, but +9 1 is not among these six places." Therefore, if Zhang wants to participate in the Olympic Games, he must put this qualification down.

Just after the 10th National Games in 2005, Zhang participated in the World Boxing Championship in Mianyang, Sichuan, and as a result, his elbow was injured and he could not train normally for a long time. In 2006, Zhang, who came back from injury, was in excellent condition and won the domestic championship. In 2007, he finally ushered in the most important test in his life, the Chicago World Championship, which was also a qualifying match for the Olympic Games. Only the top three can enter the Olympic Games.

"I spent a lot of money and got a beating," Gu Jinhua said. Boxing in China used to be laughed at in this way. However, in this Olympic qualifier, China did have a big accident. "In addition to those six places, Zhang won the third place, and it was the first time that a real knife hit +9 1."

There are more than a dozen sparring partners.

There is a team effort behind Zhang's success. "There are more than a dozen people in his sparring." He said that with Zhang's current strength, no one can "stay with him" in China. "Therefore, we must find more people, some of whom are good at swinging, some are quick at feet and some are good at jabbing, and choose different sparring partners for Zhang according to his training priorities."

How powerful is Zhang? After all, the Olympic Games is far from the public, and many people have never boxed. Zhang Can Lei Zhi killed a cow with one punch, just as Dan Tianfang sang in his ballad? Gu Jinhua said, you can't compare like this, but I can tell you one thing. There is no professional boxer in America, and any boxer in the world, as long as he is hit by Zhang, will definitely be hit by KO.

I haven't thought about professional boxers yet.

Does Zhang have any plans to become a professional boxer after the Olympic Games? Zhang said to him, I haven't thought about it yet.

Yan Li said that Jin Tang, a famous American boxing agent, had contacted them through some channels. But professional boxing is very different from amateur boxing in the Olympic Games. If you become a professional boxer, you can't take part in the Olympic Games. "

If Zhang can become a professional boxer, then he has also created a miracle. "China people made their debut in the world's highest-level boxing competition for the first time, which is as significant as Yao Ming's landing in the NBA," Yan Li said.