Cover news reporter Su Yu
On the ice rink, with each spin and jump, she uses resilience and vitality to bring the audience a wonderful viewing experience of strength and art. The perfect performance of "Golden Bridge on the River of Sorrows" made her and her partner the first pair of pairs in the history of figure skating in the world.
Dressed in plain white Hanfu and a red horse-faced skirt, she had just finished recording a cultural program when she met Sui Wenjing in Beijing recently. Although it has been more than a year since the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics, she still maintains a "sprint" state every day, publishing books, shooting, choreographing... This figure skating "Grand Slam" is constantly exploring new possibilities in life.
At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong walked to the top podium with the most difficult move - "twisting around". Winning the Olympics, World Championships, Gold Medals on Four Continents and Grand Prix, they became the world's first "Grand Slam pair". Since their first partnership in 2007, the two have been with each other for 16 years. In the journey of chasing dreams, bitterness and tiredness, joy and sorrow, perhaps only the two of them know themselves coldly and warmly.
Sui Wenjing was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province in 1995, and was deeply attracted by figure skating when she was 7 years old because she watched Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo compete in the Winter Olympics, and then began to learn figure skating. In 2007, 12-year-old Sui Wenjing and 15-year-old Han Cong teamed up to start training pair skating, and the prototype of the "green onion bucket" combination appeared. From the beginning of their careers to winning the national figure skating championship in 2009, the two took only two years. After that, they participated in the international junior competition for the first time, and won all four races, when Sui Wenjing was only 14 years old.
Sui Wenjing's autobiography "More than Wen Jing"
This year, Sui Wenjing launched her autobiography "More than Wenjing", which records the transformation and perception in the process of growing up, and tells the story of achieving the dream of Olympic champion through continuous efforts. She donated all the royalties to the China Children and Teenagers Foundation, hoping to inspire more ordinary people to pursue their dreams bravely with her experience.
"Whether it's a performer or a creator, I want to see more possibilities for myself to be 'more than quiet'." After the Beijing Winter Olympics, how to start a new start in life, Sui Wenjing said, "The only thing that remains unchanged is that every step forward, I am doing a better version of myself." ”
Sui Wenjing. Infographic
"Crossover" after winning the championship
Integrate "Chinese style" with ice and snow sports innovation
After the Beijing Winter Olympics, Sui Wenjing continued to "recharge", and as soon as she met, she shared her busy and loving life and work with reporters. In September last year, she was a visiting student at the Beijing Dance Academy to study choreography. "There are not many good choreographers in figure skating, and I want to challenge this work to bring Chinese elements into figure skating, so that the world can see the charm of traditional Chinese culture on the ice rink."
During the study process, Sui Wenjing took the same class as her dance major, which was a lot of pressure for her non-professional class. Because the choreography of dance and skating is not the same, the skating dance movements are more adapted to the rules of the competition, and the complexity of the dance requires at least 200 movements in a 4-minute program.
In order to achieve her learning goals, she requires herself to complete high-quality homework, practice and consolidate after class, and think about how to use dance movements in figure skating. In February this year, Sui Wenjing worked as a program director for young members of the Qiqihar figure skating team, and she spent 10 days choreographing 10 programs, "watching the team members show themselves on the field, I feel that everything is worth it." ”
In September this year, at the ISU Figure Skating Youth Grand Prix Austria, Sui Wenjing's Wa style program made its debut in the international arena. With their outstanding performances, the competitors finally won the bronze medal, which is also the second time that Chinese athletes stand on the podium of the Youth Grand Prix after six years.
Sui Wenjing and Han Cong won the figure skating pair competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Infographic
"Tears" of the Winter Olympic ice rink
Behind the gold harvest challenge the highest difficulty "twist around"
The moment the free skating music in the Winter Olympics stopped, the tears accumulated early made Sui Wenjing unable to hold back tears. From missing out on PyeongChang gold by 0.43 points to narrowly beating the Russian pair by 0.63 points, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong finally reached the top podium in Beijing.
Talking about the cause of tears, Sui Wenjing said that it is more of a catharsis of relaxation in a tense state. "At that moment I achieved my goals and the level of the field and did everything I could. Because the spirit is too tense after 14 days, we hope to infect the audience through our emotions. If you are not 100% committed, how can you move people hundreds of meters away? ”
Challenging the highest difficulty to "twist around" is what Sui Wenjing and Han Cong have been wanting to do since the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Before the free skate competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics, in order to ensure that the gold medal was won, the coaching staff developed several plans for the performance of the opponents. Nevertheless, when the Russian pair Tarasova/Morozov scored 155 points in the free skate, Sui Wenjing felt that the blood around her body was about to "coagulate", because this was the score that Sui Wenjing and Han Cong had not yet reached that year.
When she really stood on the field, Sui Wenjing whispered and forcefully to Han Cong, "Every time we are the last to appear to create miracles, this time will definitely be possible!" "The moment the music started, she seemed to be one with the world, there were no wins and defeats and scores, she said that she wanted to enjoy the competition, dance and skate to her heart's content...
In order to complete the "twisting around the world", Sui Wenjing lost weight to more than 70 pounds before the competition, and on the day of the final, she caught up with her physiological period, and she fell and injured her face due to shock the day before the competition. She told reporters with a smile, "Powder can't cover the bruises on my face, but I think I am the most beautiful at that moment." ”
Beijing Winter Olympics, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong in the competition. Infographic
A partner who "loves life"
Bridge each other and achieve each other
In August this year, after a year and a half of rehabilitation, still unable to return to the arena, Han Cong announced through social platforms that he would withdraw from all events in the Milan Winter Olympics cycle. "In the future, I will continue to fight for the figure skating career in other capacities, and I hope that Xiao Sui can bravely pursue his dreams, we will always be the most solid partners on the road of figure skating!"
After the Beijing Winter Olympics, the gold pair rarely appeared as athletes. In the Hulunbuir Station and 14th Winter Qualifying Tournament of the China Figure Skating Club League in August, Han Cong participated in the referee work as a technical expert, and Sui Wenjing appeared in the arena as a choreographer and coach.
At the Winter Olympics, the song "Golden Bridge on the River of Sorrows" interpreted the story of them supporting each other, getting out of the trough and fighting side by side. The story and spirit expressed in the lyrics are like detailing the "comradeship" between the two, serving each other as a bridge and achieving each other.
Talking about the 15-year friendship, Sui Wenjing frankly said that it was "a lifelong friendship". She said, "I dare to give my life to him in the arena, like a brother and sister, more like a family member who has experienced ups and downs together." ”
"Although unfortunately, I understand and support Cong's choice. No matter when and where, we will always be each other's cheerleaders, little suns. Sui Wenjing said that as a partner, he will definitely respect his own wishes.
Sui Wenjing serves as a figure skating choreographer and coach. Infographic
Cover News Dialogue Sui Wenjing
Cover News: What is the meaning of "more than "more" in the new book "More than Wen Jing"?
Sui Wenjing: Actually, I have not only the side of the arena, but also more than the me in my daily life, you may see that I have many facets. Whether it's on the field or compiling new programs for the players, there are more new expansions to keep learning. I think this "more than that" also means that my ultimate goal is not just to win an Olympic medal, but to constantly pursue the place I want to be.
Cover: Why did you donate the royalties from your new book More Than Wen Jing to the China Children's Fund?
Sui Wenjing: I hope to give more children the strength to chase their dreams, because many people helped me when I was a child. If you can have a little strength to help the children, it is very meaningful to take a brave step forward. I remember once, when I went to Ms. Zhang Guimei's school, she said if she could bring the gold medal to the child and talk to the child about the training story at school. A little girl said that you "come on and run first, I'll be there later", which particularly touched me.
Cover: What does "The Golden Bridge over the River of Sorrows" mean to you?
Sui Wenjing: Because most athletes in the Olympic Games will choose more magnificent songs, we are also considering choosing such an elegant song as "Golden Bridge on the River of Sorrow", which is actually a bit risky. When this music sounds, if everyone can remember the names of Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, and can recall our moments in the arena, this is the greatest meaning. Next, whether it is the work I choreographed or the work I participated in, it can move or cheer the audience, which I think is a special dream moment.
Cover News: At that time, the challenge of the highest difficulty "twisting around", did you ever be afraid of training?
Sui Wenjing: Every training is actually "scary". Like throwing, I can give all the weight to myself, and I have room to protect myself. But when completing the twisting action, if I have the slightest timidity or want to protect myself, there is no way to complete the movement. So, I'm going to give all my trust and all my body to my partner. This action does not mean whether to do it or not, but it must be done, which is the goal I gave myself three years ago. I think it's an action that I love and hate, and I have to lose weight (laughs).
Cover News: In PyeongChang 2018, you and Han Cong, who participated in the Winter Olympics for the first time, missed the pair skating gold medal with a slight disadvantage of 0.43 points, when you suffered a stress fracture in your foot, and you said that you did not win the championship, in fact, you were sadder than anyone. What was it like for you?
Sui Wenjing: I was depressed for a long time after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, always asking myself "why didn't I win the gold medal", self-doubting, and often woke up crying when I fell asleep. Han Congge and I made a total of 5 mistakes, but the audience could see that only my mistake in turning over was under pressure from public opinion during that time. Later, I went to practice calligraphy to calm myself down, and as I wrote in my book, this incident became a "heart demon". Now that I think about it, maybe it was the difficulties that made me who I am today.
Cover: Due to the accumulated pain over the years, you must undergo lateral collateral ligament reconstruction of your right ankle and tendon reduction surgery in your left ankle. In 2016, you posted on Weibo "Capitalized pain", 72 hours of extreme pain, close to 3 months can not get out of bed. Did you ever think that you might not be able to stand on the field one day?
Sui Wenjing: I thought it was quite difficult at the time, but it all passed. I don't want to talk about difficulty and pain when I mention competitive sports, and I don't think young people like competitive sports in this state today. I would say that I enjoyed this kind of thing because I was transforming, because sports brought me joy and dreams.
Cover: You've said the way to get rid of stress – cry. I cry when I watch a movie, I cry when I watch a women's volleyball game, and as long as I am touched by emotions, tears cannot be stopped. Why relieve stress in this way?
Sui Wenjing: For me, crying is rain and sun, and when the competition is stressful, I will use crying to release myself. In fact, I think it has something to do with personality, I am a very frank and straightforward person, but also accept all my emotions, accept imperfect self. I don't like to hold back on my own, it's so stressful, I need to unload my baggage and travel light.
Cover News: Is Age Anxiety? What's next for the plan?
Sui Wenjing: I don't have age anxiety, and I live and work very well now. As long as I have dreams and energy, I can still stand on the Olympic stage. At the Milan Winter Olympics, I want to "fight" with a better version of myself. I hope that through continuous trial and learning, I will create better programs in the future. In the future, I also want to work as a choreographer, I hope that the show I have written will slide to the international arena, and I still have many things I love, and there is no limit to the future.
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