.The performance in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courthouse Philippe-Chatrier was populated with vermillion banners, incorporating a glow to the presently orangey sky emanating off the reddish clay court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" thousands of themu00e2 $" waving in loud support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who would quickly take gold by defeating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s single people tennis final.As she set on the dust, eyes skyward and fists stretched right into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravity seemed to be to register: Zheng had actually only created the type of history that prolonged far past the arena and the moment. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had made obvious of the truth that the Olympics were as, if not even more, essential to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic victory on August 3.Picture: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our experts constantly believe a countryu00e2 $ s tribute remains in front end of private excellence, u00e2 $ she pointed out over an early morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Residence, tucked inconspicuously between the Stade de France as well as the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis place, the day after her conquest. u00e2 $ I dealt with [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotion, the battle, the mentality: It experienced different than intermittent tournament Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started playing ping pong at grow older 7. At grow older eight, she relocated, without her mama and dad, to Wuhan for far better mentoring, as well as due to the fact that teenage years she has greatly appreciated and also emulated Chinese athletes, such as the tennis celebrity Li Na and also the runner Liu Xiang, who succeeded gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually truly hard, u00e2 $ Zheng mentioned, looking back at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mom made use of to find visit on weekend breaks. When she left, I would certainly hold her leg as well as cry. When she was gone, I would consistently store her coat. This was until I was 13. After 13, my mom determined to stop her work and happen visit me full time, only to have far better growth and also much better care. Afterwards, it obtained easier. As well as we relocated to Europe when I was actually 17. u00e2 $.