Why does Bach "watch" this Chinese skier?

(Beijing Winter Olympics) Why does Bach "show" this Chinese skier?

China News Service, Beijing, February 8 Title: Why does Bach "watch" this Chinese skier?

China News Service reporter Guo Chaokai

Chinese alpine skier Xu Mingfu received a special gift on the 7th - a limited edition Olympic commemorative watch personally signed by IOC President Bach.

"The first reaction was a bit baffled, and Chairman Bach was very happy to see me." Xu Mingfu recalled on the 8th that he had just finished participating in the alpine skiing men's downhill competition and was looking down at the end of the race to unshoe his snowshoes. Bach quietly came to him, gave him the watch, elbowed him and wished him good luck. Receiving this windfall, he said he was "particularly happy and did not waste all these years of efforts.".

The picture shows Xu Mingfu. Photo by Guo Chaokai

Compared with star athletes such as Gu Ailing and Wu Dajing, Xu Mingfu is an unfamiliar name to most sports fans. Why did this skier from Jilin Tonghua be represented by Bach's "watch"?

In fact, this is not the first time Bach has given gifts to Chinese players. During the Tokyo Olympics last year, Bach went to the table tennis arena to cheer on the Chinese team and gave the "little devil" Sun Yingsha a commemorative watch for the Olympic Games. Afterwards, Bach made a special trip to the seat of the Chinese kayaking team at the Umimori Water Arena in Tokyo to congratulate Zheng Pengfei/Liu Hao, who had just won the Olympic silver medal, and presented the two with a commemorative watch as a sign of encouragement.

In the eyes of the outside world, these Gifted Chinese players are either from China's dominant advantage projects or from China's major breakthrough projects. The successful completion of Xu Mingfu's descent is a historic breakthrough in Alpine Skiing in China.

As the "crown jewel of the Winter Olympics", alpine skiing shows the charm of skiing in the exquisite combination of speed and skill. But before Beijing successfully bid for the Winter Olympics, China's alpine skiing was far behind the world's leading level. In the past, the Chinese delegation could only rely on 1 place for men and women allocated by the International Snow Federation to participate in 2 to 3 technical competitions, and the results of the competition were low. In order to participate in the whole project, Xu Mingfu and teammate Zhang Yangming, who originally focused on alpine skiing technology, included the two speed events of downhill and super big slalom into the focus of the preparation.

In this "doorstep" operation, the Chinese alpine ski team won 4 places and qualified for the competition in 11 small events, achieving a historic breakthrough in the whole project. For Xu Mingfu, who participated in the Winter Olympics for the first time, participating in the competition is a breakthrough, and if he can finish the game, he will be victorious.

However, in the face of the "Snow Flying Swallow", a track with a total length of about 3 kilometers and a vertical drop of 893 meters, the top alpine skiers did not dare to be careless, and on the 7th, many runners failed to finish the race due to mistakes. Before Xu Mingfu appeared, Zhang Yangming regretted that he could not finish the game because he missed the flag gate, but fortunately, the youngster withstood the pressure.

From the starting point at 2197 meters above sea level, it is speeding down, taxiing, jumping, cornering, sprinting... When Xu Mingfu crossed the finish line, the time was frozen at 1 minute 56 seconds 93. The 36th place was not outstanding, but the crowd still resounded with warm cheers and applause, because Xu Mingfu's move filled the gap in the Chinese Winter Olympic Team in the project.

This is the first time that a Chinese athlete has completed a men's downhill competition at the Winter Olympics, and it is also the first time that a Chinese athlete has stood on the track of the Alpine Ski Racing Event of the Winter Olympics, and since then the Alpine Ski Racing Arena of the Winter Olympics has had the achievements of Chinese athletes.

Behind Bach's "watch" Xu Mingfu is the affirmation and praise of China's historic breakthrough in alpine skiing. Xu Mingfu's successful completion is also a vivid microcosm of the development and growth of the Chinese Ice and Snow Army, and 131 Chinese athletes will make their Winter Olympic debuts at the Winter Olympics. Under the witness of the world, the new forces of China's Ice and Snow Army have taken the first step in the journey of the Winter Olympics and are continuing to move forward with full horsepower.

As Xu Mingfu said, "We have taken the first step, the future will be better and better", Chinese willing to try something, if it is in the same starting line, not to lose to anyone. (End)