At the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 10, the 27-year-old defending champion and Japanese figure skater Yu Yu fell down in the 4A and finally finished in fourth place; on February 11, in the final of the men's U-shaped track skills of snowboarding, the 35-year-old defending champion and American veteran Sean White also ended his trip to the Beijing Winter Olympics with a fourth place result.
Shaun White based on Visual China
Although both athletes are just one step away from reaching the podium of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the medals of the Winter Olympics are no longer enough to prove their greatness and legend in their respective fields. They have inspired countless players to participate in ice and snow sports, so that more enthusiasts can walk on the ice rink and snow field, which is the greatest meaning they left for sports and the Olympics, and it is also their "podium" in the arena of life!
Winter Olympics in five games: fourth place in the worst result
"Pride in staying on top of the ever-changing movement"
From winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, in 2006 to finishing fourth in the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, the 16-year Olympic life is only a small part of The 35-year-old life for Sean White.
There was a phrase that represented Sean White's place in the event, "There are two kinds of snowboarders, one is Sean White and the other is the other players." "There is no doubt that in this arena, he is a well-deserved king.
Sean White according to IC photo
In Sean White's career, the "Armageddon" at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang was undoubtedly one of his most memorable games. At that time, after the first two jumps, Japanese teenager Hirano Bumon forced him into a desperate situation with 95.25 points, and Shaun White, who let go, jumped out of the super difficulty of 1440 twice in the last jump, and the final four effective results of the whole game were 98 points from the German, Swiss and Canadian referees, and 97 points from the Japanese referee. After the super reversal, Sean White won his third gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Sean White, who is 35 years old this year, is almost unable to come to the Beijing Winter Olympics. He contracted COVID-19 at the end of last year, which is dangerous for veterans with a history of heart disease. But as he said in a previous interview, "I'm very proud to stay on top of the ever-changing movement." ”
The last dance, the fourth ending, ended his career with his "worst result" at the Winter Olympics. It may seem a lot of regret to those unfamiliar with snowboarding, but in the eyes of Sean White's fans and fans of the sport, Olympic medals and even gold medals are no longer enough to prove his greatness.
It is also a friend and foe, and a fantasy and a real 4A
"I think that's probably all I have."
Yu Sheng finished warming up and settled in the center of the ice, waiting for the music "Heaven and Earth" to sound. Spectators, staff, athletes, coaches and even many ice fans outside the Capital Gymnasium waited with bated breath for his appearance. In detail, it is waiting for his first jump in the whole set of figure skating men's singles free skating at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The music sounded, as if the dome of the Capital Gymnasium had been lifted, and the clear sky shone down, and the world was focused on Beijing. Preparing, gliding, tapping on the ice, taking off, the frozen time did not wait to bloom after this 1 second, and Yu yu yu started his free skating with a fall. But in fact, for him, his Beijing Winter Olympics have ended here...
Feather knot string Image according to IC photo
Before coming to Beijing, Yusheng Yushin set his biggest goal to complete Axel's Four-Way Jump (4A), an action that he had hardly recorded in his training, and became the bond of his life: both enemy and friend, fantasy and truth.
In the ensuing movement, people did not care too much about his unsteadiness again, and did not care how many times he jumped around.
Until the end of the movement, Yu Yu turned around immediately after leaving the ice, bowed deeply to everyone present and the stage he had dreamed of since childhood, and bent down to touch the ice surface that did not help him realize his dreams, "I think this may be all I have." "In words and expressions, it is full of reluctance and full of nostalgia.
Sean White, 35, and Yusheng, 27, both missed the podium at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Like all fourth-placers, and even all those who compete in the Winter Olympics, athletes are born with a desire for the podium, but over the course of time, they have more attachment. Medals are no longer their only goal, and medals can no longer measure their greatness and legend.
Toast the wine to the east wind, and calm down together. Maybe this is the last Olympic stage show of the two famous players, I hope you "have fun"!
Red Star News reporter Hu Minjuan Pei Han
Edited by Ou Peng
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