According to a post on Sohu Sports, Chinese swimmer, Xu Jiayu gave his Olympic silver medal to Lou Xia, the wife, and assistant of his former coach. Xia’s husband Xu Guoyi died in July of 2020, as we reported here.
Chinese Swimming News and Results also shared photos of the exchange between Jiayu and Xia here:
Xu Jiayu gave his medal from mixed medley relay to Lou Xia, wife and assistant of his former coach Xu Guoyi who passed away last year. pic.twitter.com/Jsv7lXk7hy
— Chinese Swimming News and Results (@CHNswim_fan) July 31, 2021
Jiayu’s former coach Xu Guoyi died after succumbing to brain cancer with which he was diagnosed in 2015. Guoyi coached Xu Jiayu to an Olympic silver medal in the 100 backstroke 5 years ago and has coached a number of successful swimmers including 2012 double Olympic champion and former world record holder Ye Shiwen.
At the time of Guoyi’s death both Jiayu and Shiwen delivered statements of their coach’s passing;
Xu Jiayu: “Dear coach, I remember all your expectations for me. When I won it again (men’s 100-meter backstroke gold) in Gwangju, you told me I should dream big because Tokyo is the stage for me. RIP, I promise I will bring that gold medal back home (from Tokyo) next summer for you. I will never forget what you did for me”
Ye Shiwen: “I always thought one day a miracle would happen and bring you back to health and back to us. You brought me up, put me in that stage for top honor and was always there for every big moment in my life. You taught me how to stay strong, focus on what we do and never give up. You made every of us a better person. I know you won’t be there to protect me anymore but you will always be the beacon in my heart, guiding me through both light and darkness. Goodbye Daddy Xu, my love, respect and thoughts are always with you.
Both Jiayu and Shiwen continued to find success in their individual swimming careers after the Rio 2016 Olympics. Jiayu won 2 straight World Championships swimming titles in the 100 backstroke in 2017 and 2019 and contributed to the Chinese men’s 4×100 medley bronze at Budapest 2017. Shiwen on the other hand managed to collect a pair of silver medals in the 200 and 400 IMs at the 2019 World Championships.
Jiayu went on to qualified for his second straight Olympic Games and raced the 100 and 200 backstroke individually, along with the mixed 4×100 medley relay in which he won silver. Jiayu didn’t reach the podium in the 100 backstroke following his 2016 silver and 2017/2019 gold, falling to 5th overall in the event in Tokyo. In the 200 placed 15th overall with a 1:57.76.
I think loss of their coach has affected both Xu and Ye in big way. Both of them could not find their 2019 form at Tokyo Olympics (Ye Shiwen at trials) , otherwise they could have won medals (possibly Golds) in their respective events.
Respect for my man Xu.
This is a beautiful story
“goodbye daddy xu”😩😩😩