Xiao Qin and his parents on his tenth birthday
By Zhou Hongyan
On the morning of August 18, in the house of Olympic gymnastic champion
Xiao Qin at the August 1 Sports Group quarters, Xiao Qin's father Xiao Zhen and
mother Bian Jimei told the reporters some stories about Xiao Qin.
Xiao Qin is a sensible and understanding boy
Talking about her son, Bian Jimei's eyes were liquid with tears.
"Xiao Qin knows I am in poor health. In 2003, my husband and I lived in our
hometown in Nanjing, he would call us every weekend, asking all kinds of
solicitous questions about us. At that time it was a crucial to him as he was
very busy making preparations for the Athens Olympics. Unfortunately, I suffered
from a serious kidney trouble. My husband and I had a consultation with the
doctors to arrange my physical examination and surgery between Monday and Friday
when Xiao Qin was at training so that when he phoned us at weekends we would be
at home. As long as he was able to hear our voices, his mind would set at rest.
On July 17, I had my surgery when my son was at training, and on weekend, I bore
pain to return home to receive his phone call."
We feel proud of our son for winning honor for country
The parents did not go to the competition site to watch their son in
competition during the Beijing Olympics, because after their son's setback in
the Athens Olympics, the mental pressure they had to bear was beyond people's
imagination. Talking about the classic scene of Xiao Qin's "making a military
salute to the motherland" that touched hundreds of millions of audience in
China, Bian Jimei told us an unforgettable story about Xiao Qin when he joined
the army at the age of 9.
During the Spring Festival of 1994, the August 1 Sports Group had a dinner
party. A leader patted little Xiao Qin on his shoulder and asked if he missed
his parents. The young boy dared not tell what was really on his mind and
replied "no". Then the leader said: "I don't think so. Your parents are in
Nanjing, very far from here. It is only right for you to miss them. You are an
athlete, but first of all you are a soldier. As a soldier you must love your
parents, then you will love the Party, the army and your country. You must first
of all strive to be a qualified soldier before you have the chance to win gold
medal and honor for the country and the army." His father Xiao Zhen added, "This
remarks have indelibly engraved in the memory of Xiao Qin, and spurred him on,
that is why he can win the honor for the country and the army today."
By Zhou Hongyan
(Aug 20, PLA
Daily)
Editor: Dong Zhaohui
