The audience rose to their feet, and the applause echoed through the arena. It was a moment of glory for Ni Xia Lian, the oldest competitor at this year's Olympics. As the 61-year-old table tennis player from Luxembourg circled the arena waving to the crowd, spectators of all nationalities stood up and applauded, paying their highest respect to this "grandmother-level" athlete. This scene unfolded on July 31st in the women's singles round of 32, where Ni faced the world number one, China's Sun Yingsha, who is 38 years her junior. Ultimately, Ni Xia Lian lost 0-4, marking the end of her journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Just 24 hours earlier, Ni was invited by the Chinese table tennis team to help them prepare for the mixed doubles final . She simulated North Korean player Kim Kum Yong 's long-pimpled technique , clearing the last technical hurdle for Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin, China's mixed doubles pair. "When the Chinese team approached me, they were concerned about disrupting my preparation for the singles match against Sun Yingsha. But I didn't hesitate for a moment. The girl plays just like me, and I feel it's my duty to help the Chinese team. My country trained me, and I'm happy to give back in this way," Ni explained.

In the mixed zone , a walk that usually takes 20 meters lasted 40 minutes for Ni. By the time she reached the Chinese reporters, Fan Zhendong had already secured a 2-0 lead in his match, which started at noon. Sun Yingsha, her opponent, commented: "Competing against Auntie Ni at the Olympics was very exciting and joyful. She's always finding ways to handle adversity in the game, and with her extensive international experience and on-the-spot adjustments, she's one of the best players in the world."

For Ni, Paris 2024 Olympics embodied her three dreams. "First, to compete in the Olympics. Second, to win a match. And third, to face Sun Yingsha. I'm incredibly lucky to have achieved all three," she said, her excitement evident as she celebrated her fulfilled dreams in the mixed zone, too overjoyed to contemplate new ones.

The Olympics was once an "unrealistic" wish for Ni. In 1983, at 23, she retired from the national team due to team development needs and then she moved abroad. At the Sydney 2000 Olympics, at 37, she represented Luxembourg, finally realizing her Olympic dream and reaching the women's singles round of 16. From Beijing, London, Rio, Tokyo, to now Paris, over 24 years and six Olympics, Ni has evolved from an "veteran" to someone who is "older than veteran". Journalists no longer inquire about her retirement but about the Los Angeles 2028 Games .

"2028 is too grand a question. Three years ago, I didn't think I'd be here today. I always say let things happen naturally, but we can't defy nature's course. All I can say is that as long as I can play, Los Angeles will be my goal. Table tennis has given me so much joy, and I can't bear to think or talk about leaving," Ni shared.

Source :Yangcheng Evening News

61岁的“超级明星”！倪夏莲有三个梦想和一个愿望

全场观众起立欢呼，球馆内的掌声经久不息，这是独属于本届奥运会年龄最长者倪夏莲的荣耀时刻，倪夏莲绕场一周向观众挥手致意，现场观众无论国籍，人人起立鼓掌，向这名“奶奶级”乒乓球手致以最崇高的敬意。这一幕发生在北京时间7月31日的乒乓球女单32强赛中，61岁的卢森堡选手倪夏莲在本场对手是女单世界排名第一、小她整整38岁的中国选手孙颖莎，最终倪夏莲以大比分0比4输掉比赛，结束了巴黎奥运会征程。

就在24小时前，倪夏莲应中国乒乓球队邀请，作为陪练在赛前最后一练中模拟朝鲜选手金琴英的长胶打法，为中国混双组合孙颖莎/王楚钦将要进行的混双决赛扫清最后的技术障碍。“中国乒乓球队找到我时，他们是有顾虑的，他们知道我即将在女单比赛中对战孙颖莎，做陪练会耽误我的训练备战。但我听到请求没有一点犹豫，那个女孩的打法和我一样，我有责任去帮助中国队，祖国培养了我，我能有这样的机会去回报祖国是非常幸福的。”倪夏莲说。

混采区的20米路，倪夏莲走了整整40分钟，等到她走到中国记者面前时，12点开始比赛的樊振东已经手握大比分2比0的领先优势。她的对手孙颖莎则做出这样的评价：“能和倪阿姨在奥运赛场上比赛，我非常开心、激动，她在比赛中面对逆境一直在想办法，她打了这么多年国际比赛，无论是比赛经验还是临场调整，都是世界上最强的选手之一。”

倪夏莲对于2024年的巴黎有着三个梦想。“首先是能打奥运会，第二个梦想是能赢一场，第三个梦想是和孙颖莎交手。我太幸运了，三个梦想一一实现。”混采区的倪夏莲高兴得手舞足蹈，沉浸在梦想实现的喜悦中，她来不及拥有新的梦想。

对于倪夏莲而言，奥运会也曾是“不切实际”的愿望。1983年，因为队伍发展需要，倪夏莲在23岁的年纪无奈从国家队退役，此后辗转海外。2000年悉尼奥运会，37岁的倪夏莲代表卢森堡出战，终于圆了自己的奥运梦，并且打入了女单16强。从北京、伦敦、里约、东京到如今的巴黎，24年、六届奥运会，倪夏莲也不断从一名“老将”变成“更老的老将”，记者们不再关心她何时告别，而是问起2028年的洛杉矶。

“2028是一个太过宏大的问题，三年前我都没想过自己会站在这里，我总说允许一切自然发生，但也不能违背自然规律，我只能说，只要我能打得动，我就会把洛杉矶作为我的目标，乒乓球带给我那么多的快乐，我真的很舍不得想、也不敢谈论离开的问题。”倪夏莲说。

文 | 羊城晚报特派巴黎记者 吕航 苏荇
图 | 视觉中国
译 | 赵凡
英文审校 | 郑圣浩