Yang Wei & Li Xiaopeng Encourage: It Was Tough for Su Weide to Step Up in Crisis; The Sun Will Rise Again Tomorrow

At dawn on July 30, during the men’s artistic gymnastics team final at the Paris Olympics, the Chinese gymnastics team, leading by 3.267 points after five rotations, lost the gold medal due to substitute athlete Su Weide, 24, dropping from the bar twice in the final event. China ended up with the silver.

The near miss was a bitter pill to swallow, and veteran Xiao Ruoteng shed tears post-event. Su Weide’s two drops from the bar became a trending topic. After the competition, Su said, “I think this is a huge lesson. It’s very regrettable. I feel most sorry for my teammates, my seniors, who have worked incredibly hard this cycle and endured many injuries to get here, only to not win the gold because of my mistake. So…”

Afterward, former Chinese gymnast Yang Wei commented on Su Weide’s error, “Firstly, he needs a supportive environment – whether it’s the audience supporting him, his teammates, or the coaching staff within the team. This is all crucial. More importantly, he must adjust his mindset. Whether it’s the vault or the parallel bars, he should face his mistakes head-on. No matter how you slip up, the sun will rise tomorrow. When faced with such setbacks, athletes must find a way to positively manage their emotions. I hope our friends can give Little Su more encouragement.”

Li Xiaopong, interviewed at the scene, stated, “It was tough for Su Weide to step up as a substitute in crisis. Let’s give him plenty of encouragement.”