Running 13,000km for 7 months on a bicycle to meet Ronaldo 'True Fan'
Oct 28, 2024
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According to Hong Kong media South China Morning Post, Xiaogong (24) from Anhui Province in eastern China left home on March 18 and headed to Saudi Arabia, where Ronaldo is located.
He went north to Beijing, then went west, then went from Xinjiang to Kazakhstan, and arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, via six more countries: Georgia, Iran, and Qatar. He rode his bicycle for a total of 13,000 kilometers.
On October 20, Xiaogong met Ronaldo in front of Al Nasr Football Club and achieved his dream since childhood.
Xiaogong planned to meet Ronaldo in person on his bike after he missed the tour of China in February due to injury.
For his seven-month journey, he packed two auxiliary batteries, a tent, cooking utensils, clothes, and a few daily necessities.
To communicate with the locals, he used a translation app.
In August, after suffering from a high fever in Armenia, he collapsed on the side of the road and was treated at a hospital.
He said "I was able to make new friends on this journey, and it was an opportunity to become more patient and mature."
Arriving in Saudi Arabia on October 10, he did not meet immediately as Ronaldo was in Europe for the game. Instead, Al-Nasr FC's staff promised to arrange a one-minute fan meeting when Ronaldo returns to Saudi Arabia.
Later, Xiaogong watched the match between Al Nasr and Al Shabab in person on the 19th. This was the first time I saw Ronaldo's actual play.
Xiaogong, who met Ronaldo in person the next day, shook hands and hugged and was able to receive a handwritten signature engraved on the No. 7 uniform of Al Nasr's uniform. I gave Ronaldo a cheering banner that I made with my friends.
Posting a video of the encounter online, he said `I met my hero.'
Xiaogong added that `the next destination will be Portugal, Ronaldo's hometown.'
Running 13,000km for 7 months by bicycle to meet Ronaldo'Jjin Pan'
bellho@sportschosun.com
