奥运赛场不留遗憾 为新加坡完美谢幕
“从17岁来到新加坡……我站上了国际赛场，在各个方面做到了我能做的一切，也把自己最好的一面、人生中最好的精力和时间，都展现给了国家和国人。很感谢国家给我机会，而我也收获了我们国人的支持。所以，我还是很圆满了。”
东奥将她引到我国乒坛聚光灯下
七月底东京奥运会开幕典礼，她一身帅气亮眼的红色大衣，与羽毛球选手骆建佑一起撑起红白五星新月旗，领着新加坡奥运代表团昂然步入东京奥林匹克体育场。
而后整整一个星期，举国上下守在电视机旁，看着她坚毅沉着的身影负着伤顶着痛迎战众多排名远在她之上的高手，一分分地拼、一局局过关斩将，最终杀进奥运乒乓女单四强，在自己的告别舞台上，为新加坡取得自己历来最好的成绩。
回国后恰逢八月国庆时节。8月21日，她与新加坡奥运选手一起站上了国庆庆典舞台，接受场内所有新加坡人的掌声与喝彩。她在国人之中从容自在，在一个属于新加坡人的情境中毫无违和感。
一星期后，她坐上了总理国庆群众大会演说现场，成了国家最高领导人在这一年一度分量最重的全国演说中点名表扬的人物之一。当晚透过直播镜头，她流露出球场上少见的有点儿不知所措的腼腆，以及含蓄自豪的微笑。
而八月，不只是新加坡国庆，也是她的
生日。8月18日生日当天，朋友们送到隔离酒店内为她庆生的“礼物”，是辣椒螃蟹。这道新加坡“国民美食”是她的最爱，也是近年来她必不可少的“生日餐”。
这个夏末初秋时节，于梦雨和新加坡贴得特别近。国家委以旗手重任，让她受宠若惊：“扛着国旗走在队伍的最前头，感觉是国家赋予的荣誉，也是一份责任。”而下定决心坚持完整地完成奥运赛事，是为了不留遗憾：“对得起自己的付出，也尽最大的努力争取最好的成绩来回报国家。”
谈及整个东京奥运经历让她难忘的瞬间，她有感而发说：“最大的惊喜和感动，反而是看到疫情期间还有这么多的国人愿意支持和关心我，心里非常温暖，在紧绷的赛事过程中带给我一些快乐的力量，所以真的很感谢大家。”
东京奥运，将于梦雨一下子引到了新加坡乒坛的聚光灯下。大家一直都知道她的存在，但在前辈李佳薇王越古和同期战友冯天薇的耀眼锋芒之下，又似乎从来没有人真正在意过她的存在。直至东奥过后，才猛然发现：这位新加坡乒乓女队现任领军人物，怎么会一直遗漏在我们关切的眼神之外？她之前来新的故事以及之后伤病的经历，我们是不是知道得太少？
8月中，于梦雨从东京返新一周后，《怡和世纪》通过视讯与仍在酒店隔离的于梦雨进行了一小时专访，尝试为读者拼凑“于梦雨故事”，也从于梦雨的故事一窥职业运动员的光鲜与荣耀背后我们难以想象的磨难与折腾。
我完完全全就是一个新加坡人
于梦雨1989年出生于中国辽宁，是父母捧在掌心的独生女。因为于妈妈也是乒乓球运动员，所以有意识地栽培女儿走上职业乒乓球手的道路。小梦雨5岁起接触乒乓球，妈妈是她的启蒙老师；而后历经省级比赛一路闯关，11岁就跻身辽宁专业乒乓球队。
“其实小时候对乒乓球没什么概念，妈妈让打，就很听话地去学了。职业运动员自小培训都是很艰苦的，时间长又很枯燥，而且妈妈管教很严厉，总是告诉我要吃得起苦才会结出丰硕的果实。后来就自然而然地就走上了职业选手之路。”
16岁那一年，她在中国国内比赛时让新加坡乒乓总会的中国籍教练陈勇相中，邀请她到新加坡发展乒乓球事业。于家爸妈有感于这是女儿叩开国际大赛的一扇门，也考虑到“新加坡非常安全”，放心地将女儿放行新加坡。
这么一个机缘巧合的引荐，成了她人生的转捩点，开启了她此后独自离乡背井在异乡落地生根的故事。
于梦雨在分享感受和想法时，和赛场上展现的沉稳内敛倒是一致的；旁人看上去再大的事儿，从她口中说出来却总是轻描淡写地：小时候受训时吃过的苦，东京奥运征程的煎熬和喜悦，受到国家肯定国人支持的温暖和感动，语气不失真诚却又总是平和淡定，让人感受不到太大的情绪起伏。可是说起当年初来新加坡的回忆和如今在新加坡的生活体验，她却少见地流露出小小的兴奋之情。
“一下飞机就觉得非常惊喜！这个地方太漂亮了！蓝天白云，路旁的大树，这种热带景观是我从来没看过的。”一个在北方干冷气候下长大的小姑娘，看惯了灰蒙蒙的天；让晴空万里、色彩斑斓的狮城震慑住了，瞬间爱上了新加坡。那一天，是2006年5月26日。
在十七八岁的花样年华里，对一切新事物都感到新奇憧憬；只身来到一座陌生的城市，她竟没有半点孤独感：“非常的兴奋！很开心！甚至也不太想家，反而觉得摆脱了父母的监督，突然很自由！对！我基本上没感觉有什么地方不适应，很快就觉得自己融入到新加坡了！” 说着，仿佛当年的兴奋历经15年生活下来还丝毫未减半分。
不过她也坦诚，来到新加坡马上就投入乒总的集训、比赛，生活主要围绕着小小银球而转，接触到的就是教练和队友，整体氛围很好，也因此可能还没能算是真正进入到新加坡社会。“总之，就非常喜欢这里的生活！”
而真正让她眉飞色舞起来的，是新加坡美食。她说自己非常爱吃，除了辣椒螃蟹，也爱吃海南鸡饭、咖椰面包加半生熟蛋、还有榴！而且无辣不欢。“还有印度的那个……甩饼吗？还是‘飞饼’？有鸡蛋跟 cheese 的。对对对对对！Roti Prata！沾着咖喱吃的。那个我也喜欢！”
而这几段话，是她在整个访谈过程中最放松的时候，从难得听到的爽朗笑声就可以充分感受到她在新加坡的舒服自在。
除了美食和热带景观之外，新加坡还有哪些特质让她有所触动或认同？她转而认真思考后，给出了这个答案：“这个问题也许更适合问一个成年以后来新加坡的新移民吧。我17岁就来到这里，少年到成年都在新加坡度过，跟所有在这里出生、成长的人一样，价值观、人生观、世界观，都在这里形成，对新加坡所有的一切都是认同的、习惯的。我觉得我完完全全就是一个新加坡人了。”说完，莞尔一笑。
她以一句话总结：“每一次到外地比赛后回国，就会感觉回到家了，很有安全感。”这应该就是对“家”最好的诠释了。
图：左至右
五岁起接触乒乓球
童年时期与父母摄于辽宁家乡
成年后在新加坡安家，带妈妈认识滨海湾
继续用绵薄之力，回馈国家
访谈过程中，对于“新加坡”、“新加坡人”，她明显用得更多的代名词是：“国家、“国人”。似乎对她而言，心目中的“国家”、“国人”，再也不是一个需要冠名来区别的众多国家或国民之一。就只有唯一。
如果还有任何让自己还不算“完全新加坡”的元素，恐怕就只是语言了。这些年来她一直有个很殷切的心愿，就是把英文学好：“新加坡毕竟是个多种族、多语言的国家，我把英语学好，就能与更多球迷与国人更好地沟通。”
可是，因为把所有的时间和精力都投入乒乓，这个心愿迟迟未能开展。2019年因伤病停赛休养期间，她曾经上过六个月每周两堂的英文课，伤愈后出国比赛还带着英文课本，无奈难以为继。
对于学习以英语沟通这事的认真与决心，从她在个人社交媒体上的帖文，是显而易见的。每一篇帖文都是自己先用中文写出，再用谷歌翻译成英文，最后再找朋友帮忙润饰，诚意可嘉。
所以退役以后，她希望能更加全面系统化地学习英文。“然后可能下次有机会的话，等我学习完了，我可以跟你用英语交流。我希望我可以。”
东京奥运让她达到了自己乒乓球事业的巅峰，却也是在这个时候，她因为长年伤病缠身而不得不无奈从前线退下；可是对她个人而言，这何尝不也是一次最圆满的谢幕？
出发到东京之前她早已说过，完成东奥之后，就是她该转换角色的时机了。具体计划还有待确认，“但未来的生活肯定还会围绕着新加坡乒乓球事业，尽我所能发挥余热。希望投身于培养年轻选手的工作；年轻人才是新加坡未来的希望，才有机会再创辉煌。”
而有一点倒是可以肯定的：“无论如何转换角色，从事什么行业，哪怕不再是运动员了，还是要继续留在新加坡生活。用自己的绵薄之力，回馈国家。”
可在“国家”扎根，心头却始终还有家乡放不下的双亲。最后一次回辽宁看父母已是2018年的事了，当时是随球队到中国受训；2019年初于妈妈来新看女儿，之后就再也没见到父母了。“确实是太想他们了，陪伴他们的时间太少了……爸妈都是1964年次的。很年轻吗？但是我每次跟他们视讯的时候就感觉他们跟我印象中的不太一样了……两鬓全白了……”
对于爸妈，这个常年不在身边的女儿心里其实早已有了想法：“未来，我会将父母接到新加坡来一起生活，让爸妈在这里安享晚年。”
图：左至右
2016年底肩部手术后九个月没碰球
2020年除夕夜接受物理治疗
东奥女单半决赛与中国陈梦对决时拉伤大腿
2021年3月，多哈赛场上旧患复发，坐着轮椅回国
伤患缠身，仍要站上赛场
腰伤严重时，下肢完全动不了，连上厕所也需旁人搀扶。没有家人或朋友在身边照料起居时，曾经滴水不沾因为担心上不了厕所，也曾因为下不了床而一整天没吃饭。
神经的剧痛只能靠止痛药缓解。起初是 90毫克止痛药，现阶段却只有药性最强的120毫克止痛药才能起作用。
伤患发作时的疼痛感，使她彻夜难眠，只能靠安眠药助眠；试过整个月下来有20多天完全无法入睡，让她近乎崩溃。
请于梦雨具体地描述自己的伤况，才恍然发现职业运动员伤患背后的磨难能有多严重。她负伤投入比赛坚持不放弃的精神我们都知道，但是没有这番具体的描述，我们恐怕也无从想象。
而于梦雨这一身伤病，并不是奥运前夕才有的，而是早在2013年就烙下的“病根”，旧患未愈又重返赛场力拼，比赛中的剧烈动作和爆发性使力，都会让旧患加剧或再添新伤，就这样恶性循环周而复始地折腾了七八年。
于梦雨的体能教练伍伟权告诉《怡和世纪》，肩伤和腰伤对乒乓球运动员来说不算罕见，于梦雨的情况不算特殊。体格修长纤细，快狠球路的速度和瞬间爆发力，这些确实都有可能加重她受伤的风险。
“但是最主要的是，她总会担心间隔太久疏于训练或比赛，会导致技术水平下降，所以每一次受了伤，总不让自己休息太久，而是急着投入复建和体能运动，让自己在最短的时间内恢复状态、重返赛场。”
整理于梦雨的伤患史，再与她的国际大赛战绩并列来看，类似的情况比比皆是。
七八年里伤患最严重的有两次。第一次发生在2016年里约奥运前后。那一年4月，肩部旧患开始恶化，先是靠服用止痛药和注射类固醇来应付世界巡回的各站大小赛事。偏偏到了8月里约奥运前夕，类固醇药性失效，肩痛复发，首次征战奥运打进女单八强女团第四，却是强忍着肩痛一路走过来的。
奥运后接受PRP高浓度血小板血浆治疗，暂停了所有训练和比赛在家休养。同年11月10日再接受肩部手术，医生剖开时才发现肩关节盂唇早已撕裂一整年。
手术后复原过程并不顺利，对于梦雨来说倍感煎熬痛苦。隔了整整九个月没碰球，到了2017年4月，在肩伤还未完全康复的情况下又重返赛场，在韩国公开赛中第一圈就遭淘汰。回溯当时的过程，她说：“心里的落差非常大，因为很多之前的对手我都没能拿下来，完全发挥不出自己应有的水平和状态。”
术后复出第二仗，2017年中举行的世界锦标赛，她与冯天薇搭档，勇夺女双季军。此后的一年多，她反复受到肩痛折磨，却持续在赛场奋斗。同年8月，在东运会上再拿下女团女双金牌和混双银牌。
隔年，2018年5月，轮到腰伤严重复发，这是继肩伤手术之后又一次严重伤患。当时腰伤导致下半身无法正常发力，夜里痛得睡不着觉。然而同年9月举行的亚运会，于梦雨还是爆冷勇夺女单铜牌。亚运以后，疼痛已超出身体所能承受的，连日常训练都变得异常痛苦。2019年2月至5月，有整整三个月无法参与训练，“完全无法下床走路，连鞋子袜子也穿不了。”那是她第一次萌生了要放弃的念头。
而之所以最后坚持下去，全是为了东京奥运。为了参加东奥，她选择保守治疗不动手术。可是那以后的两年里又诸多波折。先是同年12月因腰伤不得不缺席东运会。而后2021年3月“乒乓球职业大联盟多哈首战常规挑战赛”，比赛中途突然下盘核心肌群绷紧忽地坐地不起，让在场的多年战友冯天薇惊吓得哭了出来。后来出动救护车用担架抬出赛场，最后是坐着轮椅回到新加坡。
而直至东奥之前不到两个月，她还在坐着轮椅接受治疗。
所以，最终能踏上东奥征程，对她而言何其艰辛，这也正是为什么她异常珍惜在东奥赛场的每一刻，全力以赴，每一分都不肯放弃，坚持完整地完成东奥的每一场赛事，不给自己留下任何遗憾。
李显龙总理在国庆群众大会上对于梦雨予以肯定：“虽然她最后没赢得奖牌，却赢得了新加坡人的尊敬与掌声。这就是新加坡精神：不屈不挠，奋勇向前，永不言弃。”
换个角度说：新加坡人这一次透过于梦雨的经历，能摆脱以奖牌为坐标的功利眼光，愿意去认可国家运动员在赛场上的拼搏与坚持，体悟赛场背后运动员与个人身体极限和伤病搏斗的坚韧，学会把掌声与喝彩留给奖牌之外的价值，不也是运动员带给国人的一种启发？
问于梦雨，她三十年的人生几乎全投注在乒乓球事业上了，没有余时余力去真正体验生命里的其他精彩，还为此负伤累累，可曾后悔过或觉得委屈？如果人生可以重来，会如何选择？
她说：“从来没后悔过。既然选择为乒乓球事业而奋斗，不管遇到什么困难，都会坚持走下去。再来一次，我的选择不会变。”
作者为特约撰稿人
照片由新加坡乒乓总会和受访者提供
An Interview With Singapore Table Tennis Star Yu Mengyu
By Lim Woan Fei
Translated by Wong Yee Fong
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics brought Yu Mengyu into the limelight in the table tennis sport in Singapore all of a sudden. While her being a member of the Singapore Women’s Table Tennis Team is well known, until the Tokyo Olympics she remained in the shadows of her seniors Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu, and her peer Feng Tianwei. It was only after the Tokyo Olympics that one suddenly realized that Singapore’s latest star paddler has in fact been overlooked. How much did we know about her journey from China to Singapore and the prolonged injuries suffered by her in the course of her training in Singapore?
One week after Yu Mengyu’s return from Tokyo in August, Yiheshiji spoke with her over a video call while she was serving quarantine in a hotel. The idea is to produce a Yu Mengyu’s Story and to present through this story the trials and tribulations behind the fame and glory of an accomplished sportsman or sportswoman.
“I’m a true-blue Singaporean”
Yu Mengyu was born in Liaoning Province, China in 1989. She was the only child and was doted on by her parents. When she was five years old, her mother, a professional table tennis player, introduced her to the sports and started to coach her. A series of provincial matches later, she became part of the Liaoning table tennis team by the time she was 11.
“I didn’t know much when I was young. I just did what my mother told me. Professional athletes go through tough training from a young age. The sessions were long and monotonous. My mother was very strict and always told me that I won‘t succeed if I cannot put up with the rigors of training. And from there, to be a professional player became the natural path that I took.”
When she was 16, Yu Mengyu was scouted by a Singapore table tennis coach, Chen Yong while participating in a national competition in China. Chen Yong invited her to play for Singapore. Her parents were supportive and felt that it would be a steppingstone towards the international arena for their daughter. And since they also think that Singapore is after all a very safe country, they decided to let her go.
The serendipitous encounter would become a turning point in her life. It also marked the beginning of the story of her solo journey to settle down in a foreign land.
As she shares her thoughts and feelings, Yu Mengyu’s demeanor is calm and collected, much like her performance during matches. She often makes what others consider to be a big deal sound mundane. Her tone is understated yet sincere, and never dramatic. It was only when she spoke about her initial arrival and experience living in Singapore that we caught a rare glimpse of her excitement.
“I was blown away the moment I got off the plane! This place was so beautiful! There were blue skies and white clouds, with large green trees lining the roads… I’ve never seen such tropical scenery before.” Having grown up in the cold and dry climate of the far north, the teenager was used to seeing mainly grey skies. Awestruck by the clear skies and striking hues of the Lion City, she immediately fell in love with Singapore. It was 26 May 2006.
She was 17 then, full of wonder and excitement. Despite being alone in a foreign city, she said she did not feel lonely. “I was thrilled and exhilarated! I didn’t even miss home. Instead, I felt that I was suddenly free from my parent’s supervision. That’s right, I didn’t feel like I couldn’t adapt at all. I immersed myself into Singapore pretty quickly.” Her excitement did not seem to have diminished even after living here for 15 years.
“I’ve lived here since I was 17. I identify with everything about Singapore and am used to life here. I feel like I’m a true-blue Singaporean now. I always feel like I am back home every time I return from an overseas trip. I feel very safe here.”
Not giving up despite her prolonged injuries
However, she admitted that training and playing in competitions began almost immediately upon her arrival in Singapore. For the longest time, her life only revolved around the little silver ball, her coach and her teammates. The vibes around her were great, she said, though there were not as many opportunities to integrate into the Singapore society as she would like. “In any case, I really like my life here!”
Speaking on her most memorable moment in the Tokyo Olympics, Yu Mengyu said, “The biggest surprise and most touching moment was the outpouring of support and concern I received from so many Singaporeans despite the COVID-19 pandemic. It really warmed my heart and provided me with positive energy during the intense matches. I’m very grateful for that.”
Yu Mengyu has been suffering from shoulder and back injury since 2013. She never fully recovered since she continued to train and compete during treatment. Determined to play in the Tokyo Olympics, she opted for conservative therapy instead of surgery. She was still receiving treatment in a wheelchair barely two months before the Games.
One can only imagine the struggles she had to go through to compete in Tokyo. For this reason, she treasured every moment of the Games. She gave her all, fought for every point and completed every match. She did not want to leave the Games with any regrets.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long commended Yu Mengyu in his National Day Rally Speech, “While she did not win a medal in the end, she won the applause and respect of Singaporeans. And that is the Singapore spirit, to be indomitable, to keep going and never give up.”
While the Tokyo Olympics has marked the peak of her table tennis career, it has also become the Olympian’s swansong. With her chronic injury, she now has no choice but to retire. Perhaps bowing out on a high note would be the perfect curtain call for her after all?
Before setting off to Tokyo, Yu Mengyu had said it might be time to change her role after completing the Olympics. The details are yet to be confirmed but she said, “My life will still be revolving around table tennis in Singapore. I’ll do my best to channel what remains of my energy towards nurturing young players and do my small part in giving back to the country.”
She also hopes to learn English properly. “Maybe when I’ve completed my course, there will be an opportunity for me to speak with you in English. I hope I can do it.”
The above is the translation of an abridged version of the original article in Chinese.
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