INSIDE LOOK: WEI BIT SHORT OF GOLD MEDAL CHINESE STAR TAKES FAMILIAR ROLE - SECOND.Byline: Ramona Shelburne Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. Staff Writer As soon as he walked off the second tier of the medal stand and backstage toward his locker room, Yang Wei's eyes betrayed him. It was barely noticeable under the dim lighting in the hallway leading out of the arena, and Wei quickly wiped away the stray tear that rolled down his cheek. He took a few moments to compose himself before he had to face legions of reporters under the bright lights of the news-conference room, but his eyes still were red with the disappointment that had overcome him moments earlier. There would be no way to conceal his tears from the millions of Chinese who would turn on the television during their lunch break Friday afternoon to listen to Wei explain how he had finished second again. Wei, the Chinese national all-around champion and Asian Games The Asian Games, also called the Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The games are regulated by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) under the supervision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). all-around champion, was a silver medalist once more, losing to American Paul Hamm Paul Elbert Hamm (born September 24, 1982 in Waukesha, Wisconsin) is a US gymnast and Olympic gold medalist. Career In 2003, he became the first American man to win the all-round title at the world championships. on Thursday night at the World Gymnastics Championships The World Gymnastics Championships are held every year. Artistic World Artistic Gymnastics Championships have been held since 1903. Year Games Host City Country 1903 I Antwerp Belgium 1905 II Bordeaux at the Pond. He knew this role well and said all the right things afterward. ``I'm very happy with the performance I had today,'' said Wei, who also was the silver medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. ``I congratulate my friend Paul Hamm for winning the gold medal gold medal traditional first prize. [Western Cult: Misc.] See : Prize .'' Then he said something surprising, though all could forgive him. ``The results were different than I expected,'' he said. ``This competition is very important to me. But it is difficult because I finished second all-around at the Olympics and after three years of intensive training I am second again. So I am a little bit disappointed in myself.'' What makes this time harder is that Wei thought he had it won. Going into the final apparatus, the floor exercise, he held a razor-thin lead (.049) over Hamm, who would finish on the high bar. The gold medal seemed to be his to win or lose. Though he took a large step on the landing of his final pass, Wei raised both fists in celebration and danced off the podium with a bright smile he could not contain. His coach, Jun Yan, embraced him with a bear hug Bear Hug An offer made by a company to buy the shares of another company that is too high for the board of the target firm to refuse. Notes: If the target company says the merger is okay but they want a higher price, it is called a "teddy bear hug. befitting be·fit·ting adj. Appropriate; suitable; proper. be·fit  ting·ly adv.Adj. 1. a world champion. But the gold medal was far from decided. Wei's routine was scored a 9.662 by the judges, the highest score on floor exercise all night but certainly not high enough to put the gold medal beyond the reach of Hamm, who would need a 9.712 on the high bar to surpass Wei's total. With the partisan American crowd behind him, Hamm did just that, scoring a 9.775 as Wei looked on, his face saying little. He had done his best, but Hamm had done better. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Yang Wei Two Chinese athletes have their names romanized as Yang Wei:
Mark Terrill/Associated Press |
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