PARIS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's weightlifter Shi Zhiyong revealed on Friday on social media the details of his six-month battle against injuries -- a 5-liter bottle packed with acupuncture needles and more than 50 painkiller injections.
The two-time Olympic champion faced an unexpected defeat in the men's 73kg event at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. Despite leading by 10kg in the snatch, he failed all three attempts in the clean and jerk.
"I was a bit anxious during the first attempt, which led to the failure; the second left me feeling a bit lost."
"By the third attempt, I tried my best to lift it, but my leg was in great pain that I couldn't hold on," said Shi, who broke down in tears in the mixed zone, adding that his adductor muscle had torn during the competition.
This means that Shi failed to win his third consecutive Olympic gold medal.
"My third Olympics ended with regret. I feel I've let everyone down, but I haven't let myself down. I gave it everything I had," Shi commented on Weibo.
"I've been undergoing daily acupuncture, and the used needles filled a 5-liter bottle. Since February of this year, I've had over 50 painkiller injections. But for the Olympics, all the effort was worth it."
The 30-year-old has been battling a lower back injury for about three years, making it difficult for him to train properly. This almost caused him to disappear from the international tournaments, but with the support of his team, he appeared in Paris.
"The result of this competition might be a failure, but the preparation process was a success, and I'm still proud of myself," Shi added.
Shi's Weibo post attracted thousands of comments. One post commented, "You haven't let anyone down. It is us that should say thank you."
"Seeing your repeated efforts breaks my heart. I can't imagine how much pain and difficulty you've endured. The final result doesn't matter. We just want you to get some good rest," another post added.
Shi said that he was touched by the messages from his fans. "The competition is brutal, but your support gives me strength."
The weightlifting icon also expressed his best wishes to his teammates. "I want to thank the Chinese weightlifting team for their trust and support and for providing me with the best possible resources. Although I couldn't achieve my goal of a third consecutive Olympic gold, my teammates will bring honor to China."
"No matter what challenges we face, China's weightlifting team never gives up. I hope everyone continues to support China," Shi stated. ■
