VOA常速英语:Ivorian Taekwondo Champions Head to Rio Olympics(翻译)

It is the home stretch for the 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 athletics 32 years ago.
现在是这三名科特迪瓦跆拳道运动员的最后冲刺时刻。还有几周，里约夏季奥运会就开幕了。科特迪瓦在历史上只赢过一枚奥运金牌，还是在32年前的田径比赛上。

Track and field is still the top category for African Olympians, but Asian martial arts are gaining ground — especially in West Africa.
田径比赛依然是非洲奥运选手的首选参赛项目，但如今源自亚洲的武术项目也不断发展──尤其是在西非地区。

In all, African nations are sending more than 50 athletes to compete in taekwondo and judo this year.
非洲国家今年总共派出50多名运动员来参加跆拳道和柔道比赛。

"We are very confident. Our athletes are mature. They are on a par with the best in the world."
“我们很有信心。我们的运动员都是老将了。他们和世界上最优秀的运动员不分伯仲。”

Ruth Gbagbi, competed in the 2012 Olympics, has won gold in her category at the African Taekwondo Championships.She also won a gold medal at last year’s African Games.
Ruth Gbagbi参加了2012年的奥运会。并且在非洲跆拳道锦标赛上赢得了金牌。她还在去年的非洲运动会上赢得一枚金牌。

“Government support is coming along gradually. As they see results, they are starting to show interests in the sports.But the public, yes, we had a lot of fans who approach us, who encourage us. Ivorians are motivated.”
“政府也渐渐开始提供资助。当他们看到比赛成果时，也慢慢对这些运动项目产生了兴趣。但是我们有很多不断支持和鼓励我们的粉丝群众。科特迪瓦人是十分给力的。”

Taekwondo was first introduced in Ivory Coast in the 1960s by a Korean master.The sport is now a popular extracurricular activity in Ivorian schools.
跆拳道是由一位韩国教练在上世纪60年代首次引入科特迪瓦的。这项运动目前是科特迪瓦校园一项很受欢迎的课外活动。

“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 They saw that I didn’t know how to defend myself and I was withdrawn because of that.”
“是我父母让我学这个的。他们看到我因不懂自我防御而性格也比较孤僻。”

Part-time coach Ibrahima Soumahoro says the image of the sport has evolved over time.
兼职教练Ibrahima Soumahoro称，人们对这项运动的看法渐渐在改变。

"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."
“过去我们都认为学武术的人都是暴徒，只会打人。如今，跆拳道成了一项奥运比赛项目。高中和大学都有跆拳道课，一些大人物也会练习跆拳道。”

And the kids say they will be watching the national team competing in Rio.
孩子们称自己将收看国家队在里约的比赛。

"They are examples to follow because they are champions, and they come from Ivory Coast so it encourages us to continue taekwondo."
“他们是我们的榜样，因为他们都是冠军，并且他们是来自科特迪瓦国的，这激励我们要将跆拳道这项运动不断发展下去。”

This will be Cheick Cissé’s first Olympics.He won gold in his category at both the African Games last year and at the African championship earlier this year.
这是Cheick Cissé第一次参加奥运会。他曾在去年的非洲运动会和今年早期的非洲锦标赛上都赢得了金牌。

"We will try our best to bring home a medal. So the next generation can be at ease on practicing this sport in good conditions in Africa."
“我们将竭尽全力为国家赢得金牌。这样非洲的下一届运动员就可以比较轻松，在更好的环境下练习跆拳道。”

Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport since 2000, so far only three Africans have won medals in the event.
2000年以来跆拳道开始成为奥运会的比赛项目，截至目前只有3名非洲运动员在这个项目上拿到了金牌。