Chinese 2016 Olympians no longer pressured to bag gold medals as audiences change priorities. (Photo : Getty Images)
China has relaxed quite a bit after their 400-man strong delegation in the 2016 Rio Olympics gained their momentum and earned second place overall following a number of gripes since the games began.
According to the Global Times, the Chinese people who are eagerly supporting their team in Rio has started to relax as they reportedly prioritize fitness and fun in the world's biggest sports event over seeking national pride from earning shiny medals.
News about this change of heart comes just a few days after Rio 2016 where some of Team China's biggest bets encountered numerous slights before, during, and after the events.
China's Rio 2016 Plight
As of Tuesday, Team China has already planted itself in second place with a total of 13 medals tailing the United States which currently has 19.
But before reaching this far, the Chinese delegates have encountered quite a lot of struggles and hiccups in just three days since the 2016 Rio Olympics began on August 5.
According to the Los Angeles Times, one of the most talked about issues involving a Chinese Olympian is the supposed "slander" that occurred when Australian swimmer Mack Horton called China's Sun Yang a "drug cheat."
Chinese fans of the swimmer and those who are vouching for their team in the sporting event decided to call for an apology from Horton for his "arrogance" during the Games.
Aside from that, some of China's gymnasts had a difficult time in the vault as veteran Olympian Shang Chunsong barely qualified for the finals after missing a couple of training days she got sick.
That is aside from the fact that the world witnessed how the Chinese flag--the country's symbol--was "blotched" during several medal ceremonies.
The Chinese Are Moving On
Amid all these, the Global Times said that the Chinese people are no longer after the medals race or the glory of winning in Rio 2016.
Instead of criticizing Chinese athletes who failed to bag the gold medal in their respective events, netizens are now more open-minded with some even offering a sort of consolation for the likes of Sun Yang.
"You [Sun Yang] won a silver medal for the country. It's not a pity that China lost the first gold medal ... we're proud of your efforts," wrote Sina-Weibo user MCchocolate.
According to Shanghai University of Sports' School of Sports and Humanities Dean Xiao Huanyu, athletes today are lucky to have such understanding audiences compared to their predecessors.
"The athletes who came up in the past three decades shouldered more responsibilities - they had to be the best, or they wouldn't have a secure job arranged by the government and no decent income, in addition to their duty to win honor for the country," Xiao explained.
