.The performance in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courthouse Philippe-Chatrier was populated along with vermillion streamers, adding a glow to the currently orangey sky emanating off the red clay court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" thousands of themu00e2 $" waving in loud assistance for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who will soon take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s singles tennis final.As she set on the gunk, eyes skyward as well as fists expanded in to the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravitation seemed to be to enroll: Zheng had just forged the type of history that stretched much past the stadium as well as the minute. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had actually made clear of the fact that the Olympics were as, or even even more, significant to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic success on August 3.Photo: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team constantly believe a countryu00e2 $ s tribute remains in front end of individual excellence, u00e2 $ she pointed out over an early morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Property, tucked discreetly in between the Stade de France and the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis place, the time after her victory. u00e2 $ I managed [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the match, 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 grow older 7. At grow older 8, she relocated, without her mother and also papa, to Wuhan for better coaching, and given that teenage years she has actually profoundly marvelled at and mimicked Chinese professional athletes, like the ping pong celebrity Li Na and the jogger Liu Xiang, that gained gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng claimed, looking back at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mama used to follow visit on weekend breaks. When she left, I will hold her leg and weep. When she was actually gone, I would certainly always hold her jacket. This was actually until I was 13. After thirteen, my mom determined to quit her project and also happen stick with me permanent, merely to have far better development as well as far better care. Afterwards, it received simpler. And also our team moved to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.