(C to E) 鄧亞萍：世界冠軍求學的「懸樑」歲月

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鄧亞萍：世界冠軍求學的「懸樑」歲月
http://www.tynews.com.cn/tywbmap/2005-10/16/content_1381324.htm

    打球的時候，她的視力兩眼都是1.5,上學以後下降得很快，現在有一隻眼已經0.6了。
    學習上的她拿出打球時的勁頭。按說老師安排的課程已經呈飽和狀，每周天天有課，周末的作業也不輕鬆，做罷作業還要準備下一周的課，周而復始。可她還是覺得「吸收」得不夠。也難怪，她心裡真的是著急。鄧亞萍剛撂下球拍兒，就成了國際奧委會運動員委員會一位年輕的委員，她恨不得赴會時能立馬講得一口流利的英語。於是，這位乒乓球世界冠軍心底悄悄萌生著願望，早一點進入高級班，明年向碩士學位進軍。
    在諾丁漢大學上課的過程中，鄧亞萍總是抓住一切機會搶著發言。老師和她開玩笑，說從她學習的勁頭就可以看出她是一個世界冠軍。
    一年後，鄧亞萍面對嚴格的考官，用英語宣讀了35000字的論文――《從小腳女人到奧運冠軍》，以翔實生動的材料和清晰有力的論點論述了中國婦女及中國婦女體育的巨大發展和變化。臨場考官的一致結論是：無條件一次通過！2002年12月22日，她如願獲得碩士學位。薩馬蘭奇先生稱讚她「擁有了打開世界大門的鑰匙」。
She had a vision of 1.5 in both eyes back when she was competing. After going to school, her eyesight dropped quickly, having only 0.6 in one eye now.

She showed vigor in study the same as she did in table tennis. The course schedule was already as tight as it could be, with classes everyday, heavy homework over the weekends, and preparation for the following week』s lectures. There was hardly a break. Yet she still wanted more. It is understandable that she was so worried. As soon as she quit playing, Deng became a young member of the International Olympic Committee. She was so eager to be able to speak fluent English.  The former table tennis world champion made a quiet aim to enter the advanced course sooner and work towards a master degree the next year.

When studying in the Nottingham University, Deng took every chance to speak in classes. The lecturers joked that from her eagerness in study they could tell that she was a world champion.

One year later, standing before the stringent examiners, Deng read out in English her 350,000-words-long thesis, <<Women from Being Feet-wrapped to World Champions>>, elaborating with abundant facts and convincing arguments on the dramatic change and development in Chinese women and their roles in sports.

It was the examiners』 unanimous agreement to pass the thesis. On December 22, 2002, Deng was awarded with the master degree she had aspired. Mr. Samaranch acclaimed that she 「has since being provided with the key to the door of the world」.

I like it!
Here are some suggestions just for your reference (in parantheses are alternative translations):

現在有一隻眼已經0.6了 with one eye now having a vision of 0.6 only.

也難怪，她心裡真的是著急。 ...she was so eager.

鄧亞萍剛撂下球拍兒，就成了... (On retiring from playing, she joined... to become a young member.)

她恨不得赴會時能立馬講得一口流利的英語 She wanted to waste no time to acquire a good command of English.

心底悄悄萌生著願望 quietly made a wish/decision that

35000字的論文 a thesis of 35,000 words in length; a 35,000-word thesis

臨場考官的一致結論是：無條件一次通過！ (It won a unanimous agreement/vote by the examiners: pass with no reservations!)

她如願獲得碩士學位 (she was awarded a master's degree which she had waited for so long.)

稱讚她「擁有了打開世界大門的鑰匙」 (commended that the knowledge and skills she acquired had given her the key to the world.)

Recently I have more understanding about "sharp eyes and fast hand".  It is not owned by anybody at birth. It is formed after birth. Half is from descendibility, half is from pratice. Not every one has this kind of advantage. Deng Ya ping can be the world championship because she  has intergrated  both of them perfectly.  Practice makes perfect. Nobody can do anything well at the beginning, at the begining the start point is all from zero, however, some people can make great progress in a very short time, just because they believe they can do it -self confidence plus practice and inner factor.  Many miracles happenes. Some people think that's occasional; as you know, each occasion must be inevitable.

By the way, I like to play Ping Pong very much. In my opinion, I think I play not bad. Before I came to Canada, I played one hour every morning in Beijing, Especially weekends, even more!

支持

I specially appreciate two silly mistakes picked, "350,000-words-long thesis" and "the key to the door of the world".

Haha.

Deng's second career  bloom proves she is really an unusual woman.

I wonder who can find the original English title for 《從小腳女人到奧運冠軍》，can't find online.

perhaps a google search with keywords Deng Yaping, Nottingham University, master thesis, and something else will do?

by the way, a title for this article: a world champion's path to a master's degree...

"ractice makes perfect!"that's it.