For Chen Lei, football isn’t just a sport—it’s the thread that weaves together his life’s greatest treasures. Over three decades, the game gifted him a love story at the 2008 Beijing Olympics , a family united by shared passion, and a tight-knit community called the 'Thousand-Year Talents' (spoiler: it’s about their combined ages, not wizardry
).
Chen’s eyes light up when recalling how he met his wife during the Games: 'We bonded over free kicks, not fate.' Their daughter now dribbles her way through childhood, proving apples don’t fall far from the goalpost .
His team’s quirky name reflects their philosophy: 'Youth is a mindset. We’ve got 70-year-olds scoring like they’re 17!' Chen vows to stay connected to football forever, even if 'future me cheers from a lawn chair.' Talk about #lifegoals!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com