Beijing, February 4 (China News Network) Title: Hungarian brothers who can speak Northeast Dialect talk about the Winter Olympics: Training in China has helped a lot
Author Liu Xingchen Wu Xinru
As the event in which the Chinese sports delegation won the largest number of gold medals in the previous Winter Olympics, short track speed skating has always attracted the attention of the Chinese people. In the short-track speed skating arena, which is often "the difference between the blades to decide the winner", it is rare for the brothers to fight hand in hand.
Chinese brothers Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang are Hungarian short-track speed skaters. Their father was Chinese and their mother was Hungarian.
In the men's 5,000m relay final for short track speed skating at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the two brothers worked together to help Hungary win the championship, the first gold medal in the history of the Hungarian Winter Olympics.
Recently, the "Dialogue" column of China-Singapore Sports invited Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang to carry out dialogue.
In the interview, Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang switched fluently between English and Chinese with a strong Northeastern accent.
They believe that training in China has helped them a lot, and for them, who are half Chinese, participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics has a special significance, hoping that the Hungarian team can defend the title in the 5,000-meter relay event and will also strive to win medals in individual events.
Image source: Screenshot of Liu Shaolin's Weibo video.
Previously, Liu Shaoang tested positive for the new crown, but there were no obvious symptoms. On February 2, Liu Shaolin posted a video through social media showing that Liu Shaoang had arrived in Beijing. The brothers are preparing for the final sprint.
The following is an excerpt from the full text of the dialogue:
The moment you win every medal is unforgettable
Wu Xinru: When you first came into contact with skating, were you two brothers together? Which game has impressed the most so far?
Liu Shaoang: We initially received skating training together. Because they are brothers, they do a lot of things together. It was a great thing to have an older brother like Shaolin around to support me. As we grew up as skaters, we made great memories.
Liu Shaolin: The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics are very important to us, where we won the Winter Olympic gold medal for the first time. Hungary is not really a winter sports powerhouse, and the results have not been ideal. We won the first gold medal in the history of the Hungarian Winter Olympics, which is a major breakthrough and has special significance for the country.
The next goal is the Beijing Winter Olympics, and we will try to accumulate experience. The moment of winning every medal is unforgettable and these memories are very special.
Liu Shaoang: We will enjoy the Beijing Winter Olympics because There are many spectators in China who love us. I hope they can support us as much as they support the Chinese players, and we will do our best.
Data chart: Hungary's Liu Shaolin wins the championship (middle), Wu Dajing wins the silver medal (left), and another Hungarian player, Liu Shao'ang, wins the bronze medal. Photo by Zhang Hengwei
And the Chinese team members are friends off the field
Wu Xinru: You have known Chinese players for a long time, including Wu Dajing and Han Tianyu, what is your impression of them? What is the private way for top players from South Korea and other European countries to get along?
Liu Shaolin: We trained in China when we were young, we knew Wu Dajing and Han Tianyu, and we basically knew the current Members of the Chinese team. We all grew up almost together and we were very good friends. Previously, when the short track speed skating World Cup was played in Hungary, the Chinese team came to the venue in advance, and we also trained together. This is the charm of sports, above the field is the opponent, off the field is the friend.
Infographic: The picture shows Hungarian athletes jumping on the podium. Photo by Cui Nan, a reporter from China News Service
During the game, everyone will focus on preparing. In the offseason, we will contact European players and will also meet together. If you're going to Asia or the Americas, you'll contact other players and ask them about their local specialties. When we come to China, we are familiar with some attractions and will also contact friends to play together.
Liu Shaoang: Actually, there are many friends who don't skate now, but they still get in touch every time we go to Beijing or Shanghai. If we have time before the game, we enjoy spending time with our friends in China. If conditions permit, we will also train with Chinese players.
Wu Xinru: The Beijing Winter Olympics are getting closer and closer, what are your current status and what are your goals? What is the world of short track speed skating like today?
Liu Shaolin: At present, the training is going very smoothly, and we are actively preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics and trying to do our best. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, we hope that the Hungarian team can defend its glory and defend its title in the 5,000-meter relay event, and at the same time, we will strive to win medals in individual events.
In the short-distance 500-meter event, Wu Dajing is undoubtedly the strongest opponent. If you can compete in the same game at that time, I believe it will be a wonderful game for everyone.
For long-distance events, South Korean athletes are very competitive, and Chinese athletes Ren Ziwei and An Kai are also quite strong. Hopefully we can create a threat to them and present a good game.
Liu Shaoang: We have received good training in the past period of time and are looking forward to the arrival of the Beijing Winter Olympics. In fact, in the 2000 meters mixed relay and the men's 5000 meters relay, the competitors are also very strong. So when we get on the track, we have to do our best.
Wu Xinru: The sudden outbreak of the epidemic has had an impact on athletes' preparation and participation, and the Beijing Winter Olympics will also implement closed-loop management. As an athlete, do you have a sense of unfinished business?
Liu Shaolin: We like to feel the Olympic atmosphere in the Olympic Village, and we also like to make friends and hang out with other players during the competition. This time, I would have liked my family to watch our game, but due to the epidemic, we must abide by the closed-loop management regulations. The pandemic has been going on for two years, and we've learned to live with it.
Liu Shaoang: The Short Track Speed Skating World Cup (Beijing Winter Olympics Test Match) was held in Beijing, and we experienced the state of the game, and the closed-loop system was excellent. The staff in the closed loop are meticulous and I believe the same will be true during the Winter Olympics.
Chinese culture is not far away from us
Wu Xinru: For winter athletes, the Winter Olympics is the highest temple. As a Chinese athlete, what does it mean to you to participate in the Winter Olympics in Beijing?
Liu Shaolin: This competition is of special significance to us, because Chinese culture is not far away from us. Grandpa and grandma were Chinese, and they lived in Hungary. Every time we went to their house for the New Year, Grandma would always make Chinese food for us to eat, and we would communicate with Chinese, and they would give us red envelopes. During the Winter Olympics, our families will always pay attention to our games, which is an unforgettable experience.
At the same time, we are still accumulating race experience. I have participated in the Sochi and Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and Shao Ang has participated in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, we hope we can learn and gain more experience.
Liu Shaoang: In Hungary, every time someone in our family celebrates a birthday, we go to a Chinese restaurant to celebrate, and this tradition is still maintained. The Beijing Winter Olympics are going to be very special, we've been training for it for four years and we're ready for it now.
The biggest success at the moment is to be able to train in China
Wu Xinru: What is the difference in feeling between training in China and training in Hungary? In terms of training atmosphere and training environment, what are their advantages?
Liu Shaoang: We trained in Changchun for a year and a half, when China's training system was nearly a decade ahead of Hungary's. In Hungary, we train two to three times a week. In China, there are more training opportunities, with two training sessions a day.
Liu Shaolin: Our biggest success at the moment is to be able to train in China. China's skating culture and history are longer than Hungary's, and here we learn basic knowledge, accumulate experience, and improve basic skills, which helps us a lot.
Wu Xinru: China hopes to "bring 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports" through the Winter Olympics. From the perspective of world-class masters, what advice do you have for Chinese friends who love skating, especially young beginners?
Liu Shaolin: When we first started skating, we just wanted to play on the ice rink. So I hope that everyone can stick to what they like to do, which is the most important thing.
In addition, infrastructure plays an important role in driving the development of the ice and snow industry. In Hungary, for example, there are only 10 million people in the country and there is not much experience in building sites. In this regard, China has the ability to provide substantial support to its citizens.
Liu Shaoang: If you have already started to participate in ice and snow sports, and want to become healthier and have a more positive mental outlook, in fact, you don't have to force yourself too hard, just do things that make you happy.
Wu Xinru: Short track speed skating has a relatively deep foundation among the Chinese masses, and there are many people who have been paying attention to your competition. How do you feel about their support?
Liu Shaoang: Every time we go to China, we always get a lot of rewards. Audiences who love us will send exquisite homemade gifts such as our photos, hands, etc.
Liu Shaolin: As Shao Ang said, we received gifts of special significance. The audience cared about us, and last time I received a cream and a hand cream.
We love to go to China and the audience who loves us will come to watch the game. Even though we represented the Hungarian team, because we were half Chinese, the audience still shouted for us and thanked them very much for their support.
Liu Shaolin: We would like to wish Chinese fans a happy new year and hope that the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be successfully completed.
Liu Shaoang: I hope our Chinese fans will always pay attention to us and cheer us up at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (End)