by sportswriter He Leijing
PARIS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- While the world marvels at young Olympic stars pushing themselves to the limits, the veterans who have paved the way and compete with courage and unwavering belief may falter, but will forever inspire those who follow in their footsteps.
The Paris Olympics, a 17-day emotional rollercoaster, is drawing to a close. Among those bidding farewell to their storied careers is France's Bassa Mawem, who took his final bow in front of a rapturous home crowd at the Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue.
For the nearly 40-year-old climber, still scaling the 15-meter wall with the same passion and grit as in his youth, this moment was nothing short of a lifetime's triumph.
Despite finishing seventh in the men's speed climbing final on August 8, competing against young prodigies left their mark with lightning-fast times, Mawem's result was a mere footnote. The oldest competitor in the field displayed no sign of age diminishing his hunger and desire to succeed.
During the fiercely competitive qualification round earlier that week, Mawem bested his personal record three times, securing his place in the final by edging out 22-year-old Ukrainian Yaroslav Tkach by just 0.01s.
"I grew up with this sport bit by bit. It's truly a privilege to be here now with all these inspiring young athletes whom I've also inspired," he reflected. "To finish my career in the final with them is as crazy for them as it is for me."
But Mawem is not the only one whose passion continues to light the way. While skateboarding became synonymous with the rebellious energy of youth, Britain's Andy Macdonald leaped onto his board and soared, declaring to the world that even at 51, passion can outlast the passage of time.
Competing last in the men's skateboarding park preliminaries, Macdonald completed his third and final Olympic run, closing the chapter on his Parisian dream.
He was the oldest skateboarder on the Olympic stage. But he did not care.
For Macdonald, the championship was never the end goal. It was always about making it to this stage, and he had made it.
"I could have fallen on every run and still be as happy as I am now. It doesn't matter," Macdonald said after the competition, his face beaming. "This has been the experience of a lifetime. It's a truly beautiful thing to be an Olympian."
When it comes to age, Macdonald is not the oldest athlete at the Paris Games, nor is 61-year-old paddler Ni Xia Lian. That honor belongs to Canada's equestrian Jill Irving, who is three months older than Ni.
Yet Ni, representing Luxembourg, faced perhaps the greatest age disparity at the Games - pitted against China's Sun Yingsha, the world's top-ranked player who is 38 years her junior.
Ni's Olympic debut was at the Sydney 2000, before Sun was even born. Their match in Paris was humorously dubbed by Chinese fans as a "grandmother-granddaughter duel."
The outcome was predictable, but as always, winning or losing was never the whole story at the Games. Ni's mere presence on the grand stage, her sixth Olympic appearance, and her status as the oldest table tennis player in Paris, served as a powerful inspiration to her peers and fans worldwide.
"Auntie Ni is a role model for many of us younger Chinese table tennis players. She embodies a resilient athletic spirit," Sun said before their match, affectionately referring to Ni as "Auntie Ni," underscoring their close bond.
"What a rare opportunity this was. She is the best in the world. Meeting and competing with her at the Olympics is such a heartwarming moment. I feel so moved, so happy that I got this chance to play 'Shasha'," Ni remarked, using Sun's nickname.
Throughout the rivalry, Ni's eyes sparkled with excitement. She leaped in frustration over missed points but frequently smiled, savoring every moment with infectious energy.
"I know I'm not the youngest, but I always say, 'Today I am younger than tomorrow.' If you set your mind on something, age will never be an obstacle," Ni said.
Such heartwarming and inspiring scenes abound at the Olympics. There are also those unforgettable moments where legends bow out with golden farewells, signaling to the younger talents: the present may still be us, but the future is yours.
Cuba's 41-year-old wrestling legend Mijain Lopez Nunez etched his name into the annals of history by claiming his fifth Olympic gold in the men's Greco-Roman wrestling 130 kg final - a feat unmatched even by Michael Phelps in a single event.
Lopez Nunez dominated the final with a resounding 6-0 victory. After the match, he knelt to kiss the mat and left his wrestling boots on it - a symbolic gesture of retirement. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, celebrating the curtain call of a wrestling titan.
On August 9, 35-year-old Chinese table tennis star Ma Long won gold in the men's team final - his sixth Olympic gold - cementing his status as China's most decorated Olympian.
On the podium, Ma lifted his gold medal and gazed at it intently. "I've never really looked at a gold medal closely before," he said. "This gold medal is the perfect conclusion to my Olympic journey."
"I hope my career can be as long and influential as Timo Boll's," Ma said after China defeated France in the semifinal on August 8.
Just two days earlier, 43-year-old Boll had suffered consecutive defeats, leading to Germany's elimination by Sweden in the quarterfinals. Boll's exit left Ma feeling a touch melancholy.
"Boll isn't just a great player; he's a great person. For so many years, he's maintained an incredibly high level of play. Everyone respects him tremendously," Ma said. Boll is the steady light guiding him to perform at his best.
"Like Boll, I hope to inspire more kids to fall in love with table tennis," Ma added.
As the old Chinese proverb goes -- an old horse knows the way. These veterans may be battle-worn or they may remain invincible. But no matter what, the light they shine will undoubtedly spark something within young hearts and will continue to illuminate the world of sports for generations to come.
