Olympic heroes spread joy, laughter in Hong Kong, Macao

Men of many talents

Long, who loves singing and rapping, has posted five singles on the NetEase Cloud music platform under his stage name, Dragon One. He wrote two of the songs himself.

"Singing helps me relax after training," he said.

Long bought some recording equipment, recorded the songs in his dorm, did some basic editing, and then uploaded them to the platform.

In July, he released an original rap song in which he expressed his determination to win gold at the Paris Olympics, with lyrics like "I'll wear the gold medal like a gold chain."

On Aug 2, that dream became a reality for the 21-year-old Olympic debutant when he stood atop the podium with his teammate Wang.

"Even though we've dedicated most of our time and effort to training with the goal of bringing honor to our country, we can still be versatile," Long said.

"I want to show that Team China members aren't just outstanding in our sports but also possess a variety of other skills. At this gala, a few of us had the opportunity to showcase those talents, but many more of our teammates have hidden abilities and a different side beyond the competition field," he said.

During the gala, many Olympians displayed their other talents: rhythmic gymnasts and synchronized swimmers performed dance routines, while swimmers, weightlifters, canoeists and hockey players sang popular songs.

China's Olympic and world champion table tennis player Fan Zhendong gave a cappella performance of a Cantonese song by Hong Kong singer-actress Miriam Yeung.

That night, Yeung shared the video of Fan's performance on Sina Weibo, praised his singing, and expressed interest in singing with him someday. She also invited Fan to watch her perform during her current tour if he has the time.

At the Paris Olympics, Fan, who rose to fame at a young age, secured the men's singles table tennis title.

At 27, he has completed his "Grand Slam "by winning the World Championship, World Cup and the Olympic titles.

Popular paddler

For him, these visits to the special administrative regions are a welcome respite from the stress and exhaustion of competition.

"This journey has been really fun and unforgettable. I've communicated with people from different backgrounds in Hong Kong and Macao and made friends with other athletes in our group," he said.

Born in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Fan is fluent in Cantonese and enjoys singing in it. His popularity was clear during the visits, with fans loudly cheering his name wherever he went.

During the trip, Fan also helped some members of the delegation communicate in Cantonese.

For example, Jia Yifan, who won gold in the women's doubles badminton at the Paris Olympics with Chen Qingchen, asked Fan how to introduce herself in Cantonese.

Star swimmer Zhang Yufei, with 10 Olympic medals, sought his help to pronounce her favorite Hong Kong dishes of shrimp dumplings and barbecue pork buns. In Cantonese, they are called "har gow" and "char siu bao".

During the trip, the Olympians also visited local communities, and interacted with residents, students and local athletes.

"This trip offered a range of activities, allowing us to connect in a more relaxed environment outside of the competition. It has been a valuable memory for me," said Fan.

Vlogs shared by some delegation members reveal that Fan also took the opportunity to learn basic breaking moves from China's B-girl Liu Qingyi, try skateboarding with 14-year-old skateboarder Cui Chenxi, and play badminton with record-breaking swimmer Pan Zhanle while waiting backstage.

During the trip, China's veteran shooter Li Yuehong, who won gold in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol event at the Paris Olympics, also displayed his musical talents.

While touring, Li played Richard Clayderman's Mariage d'Amour and also Always With Me, the ending theme from the animated film Spirited Away, on a piano he came across.

His performance impressed his fellow Olympians.

"This is my first visit to Hong Kong and Macao with the delegation, and I'm deeply touched by the warmth of the people here," said Li. "I've felt the local passion for sports and hope this exchange will inspire more young people to embrace the spirit of Chinese sports."

Li noted that he made many new friends during the trip and gained a better understanding of the challenges and dedication behind various sports.

He also mentioned that the trip deepened his appreciation for the Greater Bay Area and expressed his strong desire to compete in the 15th National Games, which will be co-hosted by Guangdong province, Hong Kong, and Macao in November next year.

"I look forward to experiencing the enthusiasm for sports here once again and will give it my all in the games," he added.