Photo/Southern Entertainment
Editor/Southern Entertainment
Under the bright stars of the Paris Olympics, France swimming star Leon · Marchand was like a dazzling new star, winning four gold medals in a row, breaking a number of records held by Phelps, and became the focus of global swimming for a while. However, behind this aura, a storm of controversy caused by a small action after the game put him on the cusp of public opinion.
The story started with the exciting men's 200m individual medley final. Marchand's record-breaking victory not only made the France audience boil, but even President Macron applauded him. However, just after the awards ceremony, a seemingly insignificant moment exploded on the Internet.
Zhu Zhigen, the senior coach of the Chinese swimming team, took the initiative to walk to the new "Four Golden Kings" with full congratulations, stretched out his hands and prepared to shake hands. But unexpectedly, Marchand chose to ignore it and walked directly past Coach Zhu coldly, which not only stunned the Chinese players and staff present, but also caused an uproar on the Internet.
"Is Marchand a public insult to the Chinese swimming team?" Such doubts have been raised one after another. In fact, this is not the first time Marchand has shown a cold or even dismissive attitude towards Chinese athletes. As early as before, Chinese star Pan Zhanle revealed that he took the initiative to greet him in the arena and was ignored by Marchand. Now, this scene is staged again, which undoubtedly adds another fire to the already tense atmosphere of the arena.
In the face of overwhelming accusations, France Olympic committee manager Este Anger · Bell came forward and tried to defend Marchand, saying that he was a "very introverted" and "unsociable" person, perhaps just out of personal character. But such an explanation is obviously unconvincing, and many netizens bluntly said: "Can outstanding sports performance excuse all moral deficiencies?" ”
European journalist Orikron even spoke out on social media, calling it "another systemic bad sportsmanship incident", pointing out that this may be a microcosm of the collective discrimination against Chinese swimming in Europe and the United States. For a moment, Marchand's image changed from a rising star to a controversial figure, and people began to re-examine the story behind the young champion.
Marchand's swimming talent is truly remarkable. At just 22 years old, he shone at the Paris Olympics, breaking Phelps' records and showing astonishing dominance in several events. However, sportsmanship is never only reflected in the results on the field, but also in the attitude of athletes towards opponents and competitions. Marchand's act of disregard undoubtedly cast a shadow over this glory.
Looking back on the history of the Chinese swimming team, from Ye Shiwen to Sun Yang, and now to the new generation of forces such as Zhang Yufei and Li Bingjie, Chinese swimmers have always shown perseverance and respect for their opponents in the international arena. With their own efforts and sweat, they have won the respect and recognition of the world. And Marchand's disregard is undoubtedly a violation of this sportsmanship to some extent.
Of course, we can't be beaten to death with a stick. Marchand may indeed be an introverted and unsociable person, as Bell suggests. But in the international arena, as an athlete representing the country, his every move represents the image of the country. Therefore, for whatever reason, he should pay more attention to his words and deeds and show the professionalism and sportsmanship he deserves.
This storm of controversy has undoubtedly reminded Marchand that while pursuing higher, faster and stronger, we must not forget the true meaning of sportsmanship. For the majority of sports lovers, this is also a profound reflection - while enjoying the passion and happiness brought by sports, we should pay more attention to the moral cultivation of athletes and the inheritance of sportsmanship.
Going forward, we expect Marchand to learn from this experience and be more humble and courteous to others. After all, as the "four gold kings" of the new Olympic Games, he is not only the hope star of France's swimming scene, but also the idol and role model of young people around the world. Every move he makes may affect the values and behavior of countless young people.
At the same time, we also hope that the international swimming community can treat every athlete more fairly and justly, and respect every effort and dedication. Only in this way can the spirit of sports be better inherited and carried forward on a global scale. In this controversy, we have seen the cruelty and beauty of sports competition, and we have also seen the power and light of sportsmanship. Let's look forward to a more harmonious and respectful sports world.