Jin Wei, the legendary swimming coach, has a story more thrilling than a movie!
Marrying three disciples as wives, is this deep affection or something else?
He personally turned Liu Zige into an Olympic champion, yet made her willingly return home to become a housewife. What kind of story lies behind this?
Even more shocking is that he was accused of ruining the future of his athlete Chen Xinyi by forcing her to take stimulants!
Is this the truth or just rumors? Jin Wei, what kind of coach are you?
Early Years: The Gifted Boy by the River
In 1966, in an ordinary family in Liaoning, Jin Wei was born. His childhood was not particularly different, but a chance encounter led him to develop an indissoluble bond with swimming.
As a child, Jin Wei often played by the river, having a natural affinity for water. Over time, he gradually displayed his talent in swimming. Whenever he swam freely in the water, his smooth movements and astonishing speed amazed everyone around him.
In 1981, at the age of only 15, Jin Wei successfully entered the Liaoning Provincial Swimming Team through his own efforts and talent, beginning systematic training. In the swimming team, Jin Wei was not the most dazzling one; his personality was somewhat shy, and he was not good at expressing himself. But it was this introversion and tenacity that made him more focused in training, constantly honing his skills.
After spending two years with the Liaoning team, Jin Wei successfully entered the national team through his own efforts. This was undoubtedly a huge honor for him. However, the competition in the national team was even more intense, and Jin Wei's athletic career did not turn out as brilliant as people had expected. Five years later, he chose to retire, ending his career as an athlete.
Overseas Studies: Pursuing the Continuation of the Swimming Dream
After retiring, Jin Wei did not give up his love and pursuit of swimming. He knew that he had learned a lot domestically, but to go further, he needed to go abroad to learn more advanced swimming training knowledge. Therefore, he chose to further his studies at the Australian MBL Club.
During the four years abroad, Jin Wei made tremendous efforts. Not only did he have to learn new training concepts and methods, but he also had to overcome language and cultural barriers. However, he never complained, silently working hard and continuously improving himself.
Coaching Career: The Rise of the Gold Medal Mentor
Upon returning from his studies, Jin Wei began his coaching career. He returned to the Liaoning Haijian Club and took on the position of head coach. There, he met someone who would change his fate—Liu Zige.
At the time, Liu Zige was just an unknown young athlete, but Jin Wei immediately saw her swimming talent. He decided to cultivate Liu Zige as his personal disciple, pouring all his heart and soul into her. Jin Wei not only covered Liu Zige's tuition fees but also took care of her living expenses, allowing her to fully devote herself to training without any distractions.
Under Jin Wei's meticulous guidance, Liu Zige's performance improved rapidly. She began to stand out in various competitions and gradually became the focus of attention. Finally, at the World Swimming Championships, Liu Zige won the gold medal, becoming the biggest "dark horse" of the event.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics marked Liu Zige's peak moment. She fought hard on the Olympic stage and eventually won the gold medal, breaking the world record. At that moment, Liu Zige's name resounded throughout the world of swimming, and she achieved the "Grand Slam" in the butterfly event. Jin Wei, because of cultivating such an outstanding disciple, was hailed as the "Gold Medal Mentor."
Deep Teacher-Student Affection: A Love That Transcends Age
The relationship between Jin Wei and Liu Zige went beyond that of coach and athlete. Over time, they developed a deep affection for each other. In 2016, when Liu Zige was 27 and Jin Wei was 50, they chose to get married. This love that transcended age and identity aroused much discussion from the outside world, but they remained firm in their decision to be together.
It is worth noting that this was already Jin Wei's third marriage. Both of his previous wives were also his disciples. Such experiences undoubtedly made Jin Wei's teacher-student relationships even more complex and delicate.
Controversy and Punishment: The Other Side of the Teacher-Student Relationship
However, Jin Wei's coaching career was not always smooth sailing. Some of his actions plunged him into significant controversy. Some criticized him for being selfish and unable to properly handle the relationship between teacher and student. Even more serious accusations were made against him, claiming that he forced athlete Chen Xinyi to take stimulants.
Chen Xinyi was disqualified from the Rio Olympics due to taking banned substances and was suspended for two years. During the investigation, Chen Xinyi stated that it was Jin Wei who forced her to take the stimulants. This news caused an immediate uproar.
Ultimately, Jin Wei received severe punishment for this incident: he was barred from participating in competitions for two years, banned from entering any national teams for life, and no local sports bureaus could hire him. Such punishment dealt a heavy blow to a once-glorious gold medal mentor.
Jin Wei's career is filled with legendary color, from being a swimming athlete to a gold medal mentor, and now a controversial figure. He has experienced too many ups and downs. Regardless of how the future unfolds, he has already left a profound mark on Chinese swimming. And the story between him and Liu Zige will continue to be passed down and discussed by people.