.The scene in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier was populated with vermillion ensigns, adding a glow to the presently orangey air originating off the reddish clay-based court.These were actually Mandarin flagsu00e2 $" manies themu00e2 $" waving in energetic support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that will quickly take gold through beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s single people tennis final.As she set on the dust, eyes skyward as well as fists expanded right into the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravitation seemed to be to register: Zheng had simply created the kind of history that expanded far past the stadium as well as the minute. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had actually made clear of the reality that the Olympics were actually as, if not more, essential to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic victory on August 3.Image: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, we consistently think a countryu00e2 $ s respect is in face of personal success, u00e2 $ she pointed out over a morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Residence, put quietly in between the Stade de France as well as the Aquatics Centre in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis region, the time after her victory. u00e2 $ I managed [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the match, the mindset: It really felt various than intermittent tournament Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began participating in tennis at grow older seven. At grow older eight, she relocated, without her mama and also papa, to Wuhan for better training, and since teenage years she has actually profoundly marvelled at as well as followed Chinese athletes, including the tennis superstar Li Na as well as the jogger Liu Xiang, that gained gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was definitely difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng claimed, looking back at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mother utilized ahead browse through on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I will hold her lower leg and also cry. When she was gone, I would consistently keep her coat. This was actually up until I was thirteen. After 13, my mom determined to quit her work and also happen stay with me permanent, merely to possess far better growth as well as far better care. Afterwards, it got much easier. And we transferred to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.