We present an interview with Dong Dong, coach of the Chinese national trampoline gymnastics team, Olympic champion, and 12-time World Champion.

– What qualities must an athlete possess to achieve success?
– First and foremost, I believe we must focus on the training process. By thoroughly understanding and embracing the process with the right approach, it is possible to achieve the desired results.
Secondly, patience is essential. While we all want to win gold medals, it’s more important to have a long-term vision. Whether we win or lose, the only thing we can truly control is the process itself. Therefore, I believe that a proper mindset and long-term perspective are the key characteristics of a good athlete.

– What advice would you give to young athletes?
– I think sport is beautiful, exciting, and colorful. That’s why young athletes should simply enjoy it. Because the journey we take toward the result is more important than the result itself.

– What has been the most successful achievement of your career?
– My most important accomplishments came through my participation in four Olympic Games and World Championships. I won medals in each of the Olympic Games I competed in. However, I still believe that the most valuable achievement has been the experience I gained as an athlete.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which was my first Olympics, I dreamed of winning a gold medal, but I ended up with a bronze. That taught me that I needed to focus more on the training process, and the results would follow naturally.

Eventually, at the London Olympic Games, I won a gold medal.
That’s why I believe the preparation process itself is more important than winning a new medal.