Changchun, June 27 (Xinhua) -- In Lake Placid in 1980, the Chinese delegation went to the Winter Olympics for the first time, and he was honored as the flag bearer, allowing the five-star red flag to fly for the first time at the opening site of the Winter Olympics. In 2022, at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, he was honored as a torchbearer, and his hand "flying" to convey the Olympic dream. In the past 42 years, from standard-bearer to torchbearer, Zhao Weichang has witnessed the take-off of China's ice and snow industry. Today, with 51 years of party experience, his original intention has not changed, and he is still playing a "residual heat on the ice" for the construction of a sports power.
"The country has nurtured me and made me. As an old party member, I should exert my spare energy and contribute to China's ice and snow. Zhao Weichang, 73, said.
Since China's ice and snow entered the preparation cycle for the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, Zhao Weichang has not been idle. "I have not left the ice since I retired, and now I mainly participate in refereeing work in various parts of the country." He said, "My referee level is international level, so I can participate in some of the referee's organizational work. But the upper age limit for the chief referee is 65, so now I am more about using my spare time as a consultant and mentor, passing on the experience and conceptual things. ”
Speaking of inheritance, the experience of "flying" at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics last year made Zhao Weichang remember it vividly. "Very excited! At that moment, I represented all the members of the 1980 Chinese delegation! Zhao Weichang said, "Participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics is an unforgettable event. For more than 40 years, the country has always remembered us, which is a great encouragement and spur to us. As the first batch of athletes in New China to set foot on the Winter Olympic Games, it is our responsibility to pass on ice and snow tinder. He said.
On the evening of February 4, 2022, the opening ceremony of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games was held at the National Stadium in Beijing. This is torchbearer Zhao Weichang passing the torch at the opening ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiong Qi
Zhao Weichang, born in Changchun, Jilin Province in 1950, is an outstanding representative of China's first Winter Olympians. In the 70s of the 20th century, he won the all-around championship 11 times in a row and broke the national record 26 times, becoming the "strongest presence" on the domestic speed skating track at that time. With the highlight of the arena, the young Zhao Weichang also ushered in an important moment in his life.
"In July 1972, I joined the Communist Party of China with honor and achieved an important goal in life." Zhao Weichang recalled that in addition to the honor, a sense of responsibility and mission was born. "Demand yourself at all times by the standards of a Communist Party member and go all out to contribute to the country." He said that compared with international high-level athletes, there was a big gap between Chinese ice and snow athletes in terms of training hardware and technical concepts, and in the team, the pioneer and exemplary role of party members was reflected in taking the lead in enduring hardships, improving performance and narrowing the gap.
At the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics, the then 30-year-old Zhao Weichang, as the flag bearer of the Winter Olympics, witnessed Chinese ice and snow athletes enter the main venue of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics for the first time. However, in the men's 500m, 1000m, 1500m and other events in speed skating, even if Zhao Weichang skated beyond the national record, none of them could enter the top 20.
"That year, none of the 28 athletes on the Chinese team achieved good results, which showed us a huge gap." Zhao Weichang recalled that he was also shocked by the comparison of the participation guarantees of Chinese and foreign athletes at that time - many foreign athletes actually had professional physiotherapists follow up after leaving the field, and the suitcases and suits of Chinese team athletes before they went out were all borrowed from scratch. After inquiring again, the indoor ice rink, skate production and other conditions in many developed countries in Europe and the United States have made the Chinese team athletes extremely envious. "In the years we were in the professional team, we had to go to the 'bubble noodles' (frozen lake surfaces) in the dark in the cold winter for training, not to mention the sin of eating and living." He said.
Data map: Chinese athlete Zhao Weichang in the men's 1000m speed skating competition at the 13th Winter Olympic Games on February 19, 1980. Fax photo (sent by Xinhua News Agency)
Zhao Weichang believes that although China's ice and snow industry started from "bubble noodles" and "mountain and wild snow", it is under the leadership of a group of party members who are not afraid of difficulties and forge ahead, Chinese ice and snow athletes have gradually forged a tenacious character that is not afraid of hardship and dares to fight. "When I was the torchbearer for the Beijing Winter Olympics, I said that it is different now, and we now have what we didn't have then!" Zhao Weichang said that over the past 40 years, with the development of China's economy and society, China's ice and snow achievements have been continuously improved, especially the successful holding of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which has made the first generation of Winter Olympians feel gratified.
"From Zhang Hong's first Olympic gold medal for China in 2014 to Gao Tingyu breaking the record last year to become the first Chinese male athlete to win a gold medal in Winter Olympic speed skating. Our group of old party members and old speed skating team members feel extremely gratified and proud, which is the result of generations of ice and snowmen who have worked hard and unswervingly. He said.
The bid and hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics has enabled China to gradually achieve the goal of "driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports". Behind the great change is the power of shimmering light. Shortly after returning from Lake Placid in 1980, Zhao Weichang chose to retire due to injury, but never left the ice rink, serving as the head coach of the Jilin speed skating team and the director of the Changchun Sports Science Research Institute. More than 10 years after his retirement, he still often teaches part-time teachers and judges in various places, devoting himself to China's ice and snow industry.
"Speed skating is my main sport and my favorite." Zhao Weichang said that he is old, so he cherishes every opportunity to run and serve for speed skating, as long as the country needs and his body allows, he will do his best and go all out.