Liu Xianghui (L) and his grandma Xiao Xincui gesture as people take photos of them in Beijing on August 6, 2008. [Rednet.cn]

I don’t know about you, folks, maybe it’s my age, but when I look at that so-called gesture, I see ‘Peace’.

Moving on. Ninety-eight year old Xiao Xincui has now fulfilled a lifelong dream—thanks to her devoted grandson, that is. It took Liu Xianghui five weeks to pedal his tricycle all the way from Henan Province, 1491 miles—just in time for Grandma to witness history making at the Olympic Badminton Tournament.

Women’s singles champion, Zhang Ning (33 year old veteran) won the Gold. Ironically, the oldest woman to ever win Olympic Gold in Badminton was watched by the oldest Olympic fan.

To add even more irony to the fire, Chinese Badminton Officianados had written Zhang Ning off as a contender for any medal: And I quote… “China’s prospects for the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing are promising, although the Chinese Badminton Association has rather modest expectations according to an official announcement. It expects to secure only two gold medals in the men’s…” Any serious competition from Zhang Ning is far from sight.

Far from the sight of the Chinese Badminton Association, that is, but well within Zhang Ning’s sight.

Let this be a lesson, folks—follow your own dreams, your own promptings * Zhang Ning did just that, and look how perfect things turned out for her.

Zhang Ning of China celebrates after defeating Maria Kristin Yulianti of Indonesia in the women’s singles semi-final badminton match of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium in Beijing, on August 15, 2008. Zhang beat her compatriot Xie Xingfang in an all-Chinese final. [Agencies]

I think the beautiful picture of Zhang giving thanks says it all. Can you believe that the Chinese crowd was not behind her in the beginning? It’s true. According to Taiwan News, the people wanted Xie to win, partly because her boyfriend was ‘Super Dan’.

Lin Dan, Badminton hero and officer in the People’s Liberation Army, came through for his people with a smart salute and a gold medal on Sunday. Then he is reported to have gone wild, throwing his racket and shoes into the crowd in a moment of sheer abandon.

He was supposed to win, though. I have included the following take about Zhang’s victory from China Daily, because stories about people winning in the face of huge odds are more interesting to me:

Zhang won the title by beating the world No. 1 and her teammate Xie Xingfang 21-12, 10-21, 21-18.

It is a duel of will and courage instead of skills as both were on the verge of exhaustion following days of fierce fights against the world’s top players.

Zhang intensified attacks while Xie made wrong judgments after the two reached 5-5 in the first game, ending the first game 21-12. Xie revenged in the second game and achieved a good start at 5-0. She had since taking the lead until the game ended.

In the decisive game, both used rackets to support the bodies amid intervals of the competition, which was a sign of limits of physical energy. They were 16-16 at one time, but Zhang was more persistent afterwards.

Zhang burst into tears as the last returning shuttlecock from Xie touched the net and fell to the ground of Xie’s half.

“I thought once that I might not make it when Xie was keeping up with me in the third game. I was so tired,” said Zhang. She said earlier that she wanted to have a second Olympic gold. “So I can have some sweet memories for myself.”

“Zhang and Xie presented the world a most wonderful match,” said Li Yongbo, head coach of the Chinese national badminton team.

“It is a really a miracle for Zhang Ning to retain the Olympic gold. Her entrance to the Beijing Olympic Games was even in doubt two months ago,” Li said. “Maybe this is the beauty of Olympiad.”

Here’s what I have to say to Chinese head coach Yongbo: Drop the “maybe”, dude.

Happy tales,

Laura signing off

*p.s. “promptings”, a new word I learned at the SendOutCards Convention last weekend. Founder, Kody Bateman, is a great believer in acting on your own promptings. If you want to see Kody follow his prompting to perform a sendoutcards rap, click here. If you’re having a prompting to find out more about sendoutcards, click for Chris.

Peace, brothers and sisters.

Xiao Xincui, 98, gestures with a Beijing Olympic ticket while sitting on her
tricycle in Beijing on August 6, 2008.