VOA常速英语--科特迪瓦积极备战里约奥运（在线收听）

科特迪瓦积极备战里约奥运

It is the home stretch for three Ivorian taekwondo athletes. The Rio Summer Games are just weeks away, and Ivory Coast has won only one Olympic medal in its history. That one was 32 years ago. Track and field is still the top category for African Olympians, but Asian martial arts are gaining ground — especially in West Africa. In all, African nations are sending more than 50 athletes to compete in taekwondo and judo this year. We are very confident. … Our athletes are mature. They are on a par with the best in the world." Ruth Gbagbi, competed in the 2012 Olympics, and has won gold in her category at the African Taekwondo Championships. She also won a gold medal at last year's African Games. Government support is coming along gradually, as they see results, they are starting to show interest in the sport. But the public, yes, we have a lot of fans who approach us, who encourage us. Ivorians are motivated. Taekwondo was first introduced in the Ivory Coast in the 1960s by a Korean master. This sport is a popular extracurricular activity in the Ivory schools. It's my parents who put me down for it. They saw that I didn't know how to defend myself and I was withdrawn because of that. Part-time coach Ibrahima Soumahoro says the image of the sport has evolved over time. We used to think of martial arts practitioners as thugs who assault people. Now, taekwondo is an Olympic sport. It's taught in schools and universities. It is practiced by an elite. And the kids say, they will be watching the national team compete in Rio. They are examples to follow because they are champions, and they come from Ivory Coast so it encourages us to continue taekwondo. Cheick Cissé is first in the Olympics, and Cissé won gold in his category at both the African Games last year and at the African championship earlier this year. We’ll strive our best to be on a medal, so the next generation can practice sport in good conditions in Africa. Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport since 2000, but only three Africans have won medals in the event.

这是科特迪瓦三名运动员的奥运会冲刺阶段。还有几周，里约的夏季奥运会即将召开。而在科特迪瓦的历史上，只获得过一枚奥运会奖牌。那也是32年前的事了。田径是依然是非洲参赛选手的顶级项目，不过亚洲的武术也逐渐风靡——尤其是在西非地区。今年，非洲国家共有50名运动员参加跆拳道和柔道项目。我们很有信心……我们派出的都是成熟的运动员。他们的水平都是目前的世界最佳水平。露丝曾参加过2012年的奥运会，并在非洲的跆拳道锦标赛的冠军。在去年的全非运动会上，露丝也获得了金牌。随着成绩的获得，政府对运动项目开始产生兴趣，对运动项目的支持也逐渐跟上了。但是公众，对，我们有很多支持者关心并鼓励我们。科特迪瓦人民都干劲十足。

跆拳道最初于20世纪60年代由一名韩国大师引进科特迪瓦。如今，跆拳道已经成为科特迪瓦很多学校倍受欢迎的课外活动。是我爸妈为我报名的。他们觉得我不知道如何自卫。因为不懂得自卫，我变得孤僻。兼职教练易卜拉希马称，人们对运动的印象一直都在改变。我们过去常以为修习武术之人都是欺负别人的流氓。但如今跆拳道已经成为一个奥运运动项目。并在学校和大学成为学习的课程。精英人士也可以修习跆拳道。孩子们也表示，他们会观看里约奥运会上国家队的表现。他们是学习的榜样，因为他们是冠军，他们还是科特迪瓦人，所以他们也鼓励我们在跆拳道事业上前仆后继。谢克本次第一次参加奥运会，他曾在本年初的全非运动会和非洲锦标赛上获得金牌。我们会竭尽全力赢得奖牌，这样，下一代非洲人就能有更好的训练环境。自2000年以来，跆拳道就成为一项奥运项目，然而目前只有三名非洲人在这个赛事上赢得过奖牌。