China's Zhang Jike crowned Olympic champion

LONDON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Jike leapt over the barriers, ran to the podium, knelt down and kissed the top. That might be the most emotional moment for the newly crowned Olympic champion on Thursday.

For the rest of the time, Zhang appeared calm and reserved. There were no rapturous celebrations or passionate¹ talks, let alone the signature T-shirt ripping and wild shouting as he did after winning the World Cup Champion in Rotterdam last year.

He hugged his teammate Wang Hao, the silver medalist, after the match and invited Wang to hold the national flag together for pictures.

His well-measured and low-key behavior could probably be interpreted as a kind gesture to his teammate Wang, who won three silver medals in table tennis men's singles in three Olympic Games in a row.

Zhang beat Wang in the all-Chinese final 18-16, 11-5, 11-6, 10-12 and 13-11, winning the gold medal.

The victory puts Zhang, the reigning² World Champion and World Cup Champion in 2011, in the same league of such legendary³ players as his coach Liu Guoliang and Sweden's Jan-Ove Waldner. It also ended Wang's last chance to charge for an Olympic gold medal.

"A game between teammates is quite cruel. Table tennis is cruel. It's not like swimming or gymnastics, which allows athletes to tie. You have to win or lose," Zhang said.

"As a matter of fact, I am not in the mood for celebration now. We still have team event, which is our most important target. I must switch my focus on the team event as soon as possible," Zhang said.

Tired and disappointed, Wang, maintained an imperturbable⁴ demeanor⁵.

"Three Olympic Games and 12 years. It's not easy for me," Wang said at the press conference.

He said the ups and downs over the years have tested his perseverance⁶ and made him mentally stronger. "I feel I am in a good form now. Today's lose won't affect me. I'll be 100 percent concentrated on the team event next."

Asked how disappointed he was about winning a third silver medal, Wang said: "I think my fans might be more disappointed with the result than I was. But I've really done my best. I hope they can be as strong as I am and move on with me."

Liu Guoliang, head coach of China's men's team, said he was proud of his players, who defended the country's dominance in its national sport.

"Wang Hao didn't win the gold medal. But he entered the final for three times. This is also something unprecedented⁷. His perseverance well interprets the Olympic spirit," Liu said.

Also on Thursday, Germany's Dimitrij Ovtcharov beat Chuang Chih-Yuan from Chinese Taipei 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-5 and 14-12, winning Germany's second Olympic medal in men's singles in history.

China has won 22 of 26 gold medals available since table tennis was introduced into the Olympics in 1988.

1 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

2 reigning   

adj.统治的，起支配作用的

参考例句：

• The sky was dark, stars were twinkling high above, night was reigning, and everything was sunk in silken silence. 天很黑，星很繁，夜阑人静。
• Led by Huang Chao, they brought down the reigning house after 300 years' rule. 在黄巢的带领下，他们推翻了统治了三百年的王朝。

3 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

4 imperturbable   

adj.镇静的

参考例句：

• Thomas,of course,was cool and aloof and imperturbable.当然，托马斯沉着、冷漠，不易激动。
• Edward was a model of good temper and his equanimity imperturbable.爱德华是个典型的好性子，他总是沉着镇定。

5 demeanor   

n.行为；风度

参考例句：

• She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
• The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。

6 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。

7 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。