[Global Times-Global Network Report Reporter Xing Xiaojing Xu Keyue] The wonderful performance of Chinese snowboarder Su Yiming at the Beijing Winter Olympics has attracted attention, and the transnational story of him and Japanese coach Yasuhiro Sato is also talked about. On the 18th, Su Yiming ushered in his 18th birthday, and Yasuhiro Sato first sent his blessings on social media in the morning, and then revealed in an interview with the Global Times reporter that he would celebrate Su Yiming's birthday in the evening. In an interview, Yasuhiro Sato recalled his journey with Su Yiming, saying the story between them "continues" and goodbye at the Italian Winter Olympics four years later.
The picture shows Yasuhiro Sato being interviewed by a global times reporter on the 18th.
The first episode ends and the second episode begins filming
"Happy birthday, I love you!" Thank you parents for bringing you into this world. Congratulations on winning the gold medal, you made history. It's an honor to run with you into the future, you're the one who changed the world. On the 18th, Yasuhiro Sato sent birthday wishes to Su Yiming on social media: "The first episode is over, the superstar never rests, and the training starts at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning." Rush duck, love you. ”
"'Start training tomorrow at 8am' is a joke." On the 18th, Yasuhiro Sato said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times reporter, "On the night that Xiaoming (Note: Yasuhiro Sato's nickname for Su Yiming) won the championship, I also joked with him that 'tomorrow morning at 6:30 will be gathered'."
The picture shows Yasuhiro Sato sending birthday wishes to Su Yiming.
At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Su Yiming won two medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics, including the men's big jumping championships on snowboarding and the runner-up in steeplechase skills. Yasuhiro Sato thinks he's "awesome!" "It's not an easy task at all, to compete at the top level of the world, just to get the ticket to the Winter Olympics, you have to overcome all kinds of obstacles." We worked together and got to where we are today. ”
Yasuhiro Sato said, "Xiaoming was under a lot of pressure, the first time he won a silver medal because of a misjudgment, so many people cheered for him, he wanted to get another medal later, but at that time, he didn't expect to win the gold medal." Later, he became a world champion, and many memories came to mind and tears flowed. Yasuhiro Sato told the Global Times reporter, "I am not a 'crying bag', but Xiaoming always makes me moved, and I have mixed feelings at the Winter Olympics, and I have cried many times." ”
In the final of the men's big jump in snowboarding, China's Su Yiming won the gold medal (Photo: Global Times-Global Network reporter Li Hao)
After the game, many Chinese netizens sent private messages to Yasuhiro Sato to express their gratitude, and he always tried his best to reply, although sometimes it was just a simple expression, and he also wanted to tell the netizens that he had received their blessings and thanked them for their support. Yasuhiro Sato originally planned to return to Japan as soon as possible, but now decided to stay and participate in the closing ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, "I regret not being able to attend the opening ceremony, this time I will wear the costume of the Chinese delegation to the closing ceremony." Yasuhiro Sato also pointed to the red hat he was wearing on his head and said, "You see it says 'CHINA' on it, I like it very much."
Yasuhiro Sato told the Global Times reporter that from the age of 14 to 18, he and Su Yiming walked together for 4 years, and with Su Yiming winning the championship at the Beijing Winter Olympics, the "first episode" also ended. Still, the story between them continues, with "Episode Two" starting now and seeing you four years later at the Italian Winter Olympics.
Life has changed drastically
Su Yiming once told the media that he thanked Yasuhiro Sato for changing his life. Yasuhiro Sato also believes that Su Yiming has also brought him "drastic changes in life". As early as the age of 11, Su Yiming had found Yasuhiro Sato, known as the "godfather of Japanese snowboarding", hoping to learn from him. It was not until 2018 that Yasuhiro Sato received an invitation from the Chinese side to serve as the head coach of the national team that the fate between the two officially began.
Yasuhiro Sato remembers the 14-year-old boy who walked up to him with a veneer in his arms and shouted, "Please!" He thought, "This kid is skating well, but he's 14 years old, maybe it's a little late." Unexpectedly, in less than 4 years, the two masters and apprentices worked together to create history. Yasuhiro Sato admits that this difficult and unforgettable experience was also a "life upheaval" for himself.
In fact, while coaching Su Yiming, Yasuhiro Sato is also mentoring Japanese players such as Ree Iwasawa and Ken Otsuka, who also appeared in this Winter Olympics. When talking about the advantages of Su Yiming compared with other Japanese players, Yasuhiro Sato said that they are actually similar in terms of technology and quality, and Su Yiming's gold medal cannot be said that other players are not good, but Su Yiming's advantages are also quite prominent.
For example, Yasuhiro Sato said that Su Yiming has a super love for the sport of snowboarding, is good at concentrating, and has a strong self-correction ability. Never give in when encountering difficulties, but take the initiative to think about ways to solve problems.
Su Yiming won the gold medal in the men's big jump in snowboarding (Photo: Global Times-Global Network reporter Li Hao)
Every time Su Yiming came on the field, she would hug Yasuhiro Sato, and the strong relationship of trust between the two was overflowing. "Chinese respect for the division commander deeply touched my heart." Yasuhiro Sato told the Global Times reporter, "I don't think I have any superb guidance ability, but Xiaoming just trusts me unconditionally and respects me." His parents and other people around him treated me like this, and I think that's the traditional Chinese virtue. "I can feel their respect and trust in me strongly, so I am also constantly learning and constantly improving, otherwise I would think that this is 'very rude' to Xiaoming." ”
"Together for the future"
As a Japanese coach but leading Chinese players to win the Winter Olympics, some Japanese netizens "sour" said: Is It true that China gives higher remuneration, regardless of Japanese players? "People who have this kind of thinking are 'dead', which is not cool at all." Yasuhiro Sato told the Global Times that such remarks would put a little pressure on him, but he wouldn't care too much. Because also in this Winter Olympics, he will wear the costume of the Chinese delegation when he guides Su Yiming, but he will also change his clothes to guide Japanese players such as Iwasuka Reiko and Ken Otsuka, who also appeared. Players from both countries will not mind each other at all, and this model will continue in the future.
In this regard, Yasuhiro Sato explained that when Su Yiming was 14 years old, the level of Japanese athletes he coached was obviously above Su Yiming, and Su Yiming respected them, took them as an example and goal, and only then could he move forward step by step and strive to become excellent. The team members respected and supported each other and came together to this day. Yasuhiro Sato said that just like the slogan of the Beijing Winter Olympics, "Together to the Future", these athletes themselves have the spirit of "going to the future together".
Taking the Beijing Winter Olympics as an opportunity, more and more young people are joining the ranks of ice and snow sports. "Will there be a second Su Yiming?" In response to a question from the Global Times reporter, Yasuhiro Sato replied, "China will have more and more Winter Olympic champions, but in the next 100 years, I am afraid there will be no second Su Yiming." Su Yiming is Su Yiming, he is such a special existence. ”
Yasuhiro Sato said that Su Yiming was once a well-known child star, and later began to ski and became a world champion, which is a very rare and rare experience. He has seen the movie "Rock 'n' Roll Kid" starring Su Yiming, "can't understand Chinese can also see it". Before preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics, he was too busy, and after the end, he wanted to "brush up" all of Su Yiming's film and television works.
For Su Yiming's "acting career", Sato Yasuhiro told the Global Times reporter that he has always told Su Yiming that if he succeeds as a skier in the world, he can continue to be an actor in the future. It must be very interesting to star in a ski-themed movie and let more people know about and enjoy the sport. He also revealed that "Su Yiming himself thinks the same way, and this is something that only he can do."
Yasuhiro Sato once said on social media, "Now that I am a coach and an athlete with Xiaoming, I may be able to do something different together in the future." "So, what are you going to do differently?" In response to a question from a Global Times reporter, Yasuhiro Sato said, "I am Japanese, he is Chinese, and we hope that we can build a bridge for exchanges between Japan and China, promote mutual understanding between the two countries, and write more good stories of Japan-China friendship."
Yasuhiro Sato also said that he personally felt that ice and snow sports were "highly popular" in China and hoped to "expand the circle of friends" through sports. Just like the Beijing Winter Olympics, it seems to compete in the competition, but in fact, everyone has friends who have common dreams and pursuits, and make unremitting efforts for it, which is the real Olympic spirit.