The Paper's reporter Pu Yaolei and Ma Zuoyu sent it from Chongli
After the game, Liu Jiayu walked into the mixed mining area with a smile on his face, but Cai Xuetong, who came later, couldn't help but shed tears.
The two Chinese athletes with different emotions have the same identity - snowboard veteran and participant in four Winter Olympic Games.
Compared with Liu Jiayu, who has already won a silver medal in Pyeongchang, Cai Xuetong, who missed the Olympic podium again, is undoubtedly the more regrettable one: "The last (one slide) was not successful, if it was successful, the result might be different, which made me feel uncomfortable." ”
But in the face of the future, two veterans who have contributed their youth to the snow field for many years have given the same answer: they still love skiing, and they want to continue.
Cai Xuetong was a little disappointed after the game.
Tears and smiles
When asked by reporters what evaluation he had about the four years of preparation for the Beijing Winter Olympics, Cai Xuetong couldn't help but pull open the snow mirror and wipe the tears that slipped from his eyes.
"In the past four years I feel... As soon as I said these four years, I felt a little..." Cai Xuetong choked up when he opened his mouth. The emotion of regret is particularly heart-wrenching in the cold wind of the snow.
Indeed, as the predecessor of China's snowboarding industry and the star of the world's snow world, Cai Xuetong has won too many honors: world championship, World Cup sub-station champion, World Cup overall champion... Only the Olympic medal is a dream that she can't dream of.
But in beijing, although she created her olympic best, she still rubbed shoulders with the medal.
"I was in good shape in this race, maybe a little bit unlucky at the end, and I didn't succeed in the end, and if I had succeeded, the result might have been different, which made me feel bad."
"Originally, the third skate should have done a back foot 900 action, but when it took off, it may still be impatient, a little anxious, and did not give the upper force."
Liu Jiayu in the game.
Compared with Cai Xuetong's regrets, Liu Jiayu, another Chinese celebrity who completed the game earlier and won the silver medal at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, seemed to be in a much better mood, although she only achieved the eighth place in the end, but she still felt that she enjoyed her winter Olympic trip.
"From the last Olympic silver medal to now, I have developed a lot of new moves, which are progress and breakthroughs, and I did a back foot for two weeks when I was training for the first two days. It's also a testament to my strength. ”
"This race, no matter what, still stood and slid down, and I hope that everyone will convey the idea that as long as you persevere, believe in yourself, you will succeed and enjoy the sport at the same time."
Cai Xuetong in training.
The future, and dreams
Cai Xuetong, 29 years old this year, and Liu Jiayu, 30 years old this year, both of them stood on the field of the Winter Olympics for the fourth time. Regardless of the achievement, this in itself is already an achievement that is difficult for most people to achieve.
But even if they have become veterans of all the populations, the hearts of the two people still have a more distant future.
Even if he failed to perform particularly ideally in the ranking, Liu Jiayu did not shy away from telling reporters that he still had the dream of the Winter Olympic gold medal in his heart, and after the Beijing Winter Olympics, he would continue to pursue his dream journey.
"Definitely." Asked if she would continue to ski, she immediately gave an affirmative answer without any hesitation, and when it came to specific goals, she laughed even more, "Of course, after taking the gold medal, after the silver medal, there is nothing else to take." ”
Cai Xuetong in the game.
For veterans who have already passed the 30-year-old mark, it is not easy to storm the podium of the Winter Olympics or even compete for gold medals, not to mention that in this project, there are dominant players like Chloe King, who has just completed defending his title.
But Liu Jiayu is not afraid of the stage, even if she is a veteran, she also has the courage to aspire to a thousand miles: "I think everyone has their own advantages and abilities, although the American players are very strong and have many difficult moves." I also have my own style, and I believe that as long as I make all my stuff, I can definitely beat her. ”
And Cai Xuetong, she has not yet made a final farewell to her Olympic dream.
"If I have the ability to constantly push my limits and reach my potential, I will continue."
Liu Jiayu still wants to fight again.
To love, to enjoy
In fact, in the final of this U-shaped venue, there is also a veteran who has experienced the baptism of the Winter Olympics for many years, that is, the 33-year-old Spanish veteran Casteljet, who has won the silver medal.
Her presence is also a special inspiration for veterans from China, as Cai Xuetong said: "She has always been a role model for me, she is already the fifth Winter Olympics, and she is constantly challenging herself, challenging Chloe, whenever I see her, I will feel that I can too." 」 ”
Yes, there is no impossible on the skiing field, which is a belief that many athletes in this project have, Liu Jiayu and Cai Xuetong are no exception, even if both of them have had to experience the natural law of the decline in physical ability of elderly players, even if their bodies have been tortured by injuries again and again.
From the "genius girl" who first emerged in the international arena to the ranks of veterans, the two have never changed, that is, their love for skiing.
Liu Jiayu.
Looking back on the journey behind him, Liu Jiayu, who has experienced many injuries and even once coughed and caused shoulder dislocation, is completely reluctant to mention those "bitter" parts: "These four (Winter Olympics) actually have nothing to insist on, my idea is to enjoy skiing with the coach, to open up their own limits, and indeed we have done it." ”
"I was actually very happy every day, and I never felt that these four years were painful and needed to be persevered."
"When I skated on the last slide [today], I told myself that I had no other idea, just to enjoy skiing, to enjoy what I could do now, and to be determined that I must realize my dream in the next four years."
Cai Xuetong also said that the meaning of skiing for himself is to "let me see more possibilities in myself" and "I just want to be able to skate well, skate happily, and do my best in the process." ”
Today, she still wants to maintain this state of mind: "It was really not easy for me for four years, but I still let myself enjoy the sport itself as much as possible." ”
"My goal is to push my limits, that's what the sport teaches me, I just want to use my best potential, to challenge the hardest moves, to push the sport."
Wiping away the tears, Cai Xuetong's eyes still had a light.
Editor-in-Charge: Ascendas
Proofreader: Zhang Liangliang