After vowing to leap from a high building if his gymnasts failed to win gold at their home Olympics, China’s head coach Huang Yubin was breathing a sigh of relief after the men's team event Tuesday.
Reigning world champions China lived up to their status as red-hot favourites and added the Olympic gold medal to their bulging trophy collection, meaning their coach will not have to make good on his rash promise.
‘To be completely honest, I am relieved,’ a beaming Huang told reporters after the decider. ‘I would like to thank the athletes for giving me the opportunity to stay here.’
However, Huang said his charges still managed to turn his hair white as he whipped them into shape for Beijing following a disappointing fifth place in Athens four years ago.
That defeat was particularly difficult to take for the Chinese because they had won their first team title at the 2000 Sydney Games, only to have arch-rival Japan snatch it from them in Athens.
‘After four years of big effort, of many nightmares, I have white hair but it doesn't matter,’ he said through an interpreter.
‘The gold medal is the most important thing, I'm really very happy for our men's team. We've gone through some very painful exercises.’
Huang said the preparation for the Bijing Olympics had been relentless.
‘They really did their utmost. If they stopped, they had pains and injuries coming up and they really had a hard time.
‘They can't just exercise for one day and rest for three, it's impossible, they have to keep on going, keep on training themselves ... but we got the gold medal, so it's worth it.’
China's men will have the chance to add to their gymnastics medal haul in the individual finals later this week, where they have qualified first in pommel horse, rings, parallel bars and the individual all-around event.
