"It's been more than 30 years now, and whenever I see an old photo, I feel like I'm reminiscing, or when I'm reminiscing about the past, for me, my entire sports career, including the present, life and work have not left skating." A few days ago, in an interview with the "Winter Olympic Story Club", Li Yan, chairman of the Chinese Skating Association, said. From athletes to coaches to the president of the Chinese Skating Association, although the role identity is changing, Li Yan's love for skating has not changed.
The debut was a blockbuster
In 1988, Li Yan, who debuted in the world arena, participated in the short track speed skating competition at the Calgary Winter Olympics in Canada, winning a gold medal and two bronze medals, and breaking the world record twice. Although the short track speed skating event was only a performance event at that Olympic Games, Li Yan's stunning performance still attracted the world's attention. At that time, the organizing committee of the Calgary Winter Olympics also printed a poster entitled "The Dragon Takes Off", and the protagonist of the poster was Li Yan.
In 1988, the organizing committee of the Calgary Winter Olympics issued a poster for the "Dragon Takes Off".
"At that time, the first time I participated in this kind of competition, there was a feeling of ignorance and fearlessness, I thought that I could just slide forward anyway, there were not so many technical and tactical considerations, with my good physical strength, I kept sliding until the end, and I remember that the race uniform I was wearing at that time was provided by a sponsor, and there was no national flag and other elements on it."
Four years later, at the Albertville Winter Olympics, short track speed skating became an official Olympic sport. Li Yan won the silver medal in the 500 meters, and although she failed to achieve the goal of "zero breakthrough" of the gold medal, she still created the history of Speed Skating in China. Recalling the scene when he went abroad to compete, Li Yan was deeply touched. "In fact, looking back now, what I have experienced most deeply is the growth of China's ice and snow sports, which is closely related to the prosperity and strength of the country, and I can clearly feel that every step taken, especially every competition, can reflect the ever-changing spiritual outlook of our country." We have gone from a relatively worn-out sportswear to participate in the competition state to the current all participating equipment belongs to the world's advanced level, and the development of technology reflects the enhancement of our national strength. This also makes today's athletes more confident. ”
Coaching careers have been a success
Before the 1994 Winter Olympics, Li Yan chose to retire and start his short track speed skating coaching career. From 2000 until he took over the Chinese short track speed skating team, Li Yan served as the head coach of the Slovak and Austrian national short track speed skating teams and the United States national short track speed skating team.
In 2006, Li Yan officially took over the coaching whip of the Chinese short track speed skating team. Anyone who knows her well knows that her style is strong and bold, and being very strict with athletes is her coaching label. Li Yan was also called "Stepmother" by the team members. "I just returned to China to coach that meeting, it takes time to slowly integrate into domestic life, most of my energy is focused on the training of the team members, I care less about their lives, the team members may have a sense of distance from me, and I have stricter training requirements, so I have this title." Li Yan said with a smile.
However, under the leadership of this "stepmother", the Chinese short track speed skating team has created brilliant records step by step.
In 2007, after Li Yan coached the Chinese team for half a year, he led the Chinese team to win four gold medals at the Asian Winter Games. In the 2008-2009 season, the Chinese women's team had an amazing record, Wang Meng broke the world record twice, and the women's relay won four world cup gold medals, breaking the world record. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Wang Meng won the women's 1000m championship, and the Chinese women's short track speed skating team won gold medals in all four events, setting a record for the Winter Olympics. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Wu Dajing won the gold medal with an absolute advantage. When Wu Dajing was the first to cross the finish line, he excitedly rushed to the sideline and hugged the "stepmother" tightly.
"During my tenure as the head coach of Chinese short track speed skating, I have cultivated a number of outstanding athletes, and I am also grateful to have such a good team, the strength of one person cannot be done, it is precisely because of the cooperation of these professional support teams, excellent coaches and athletes that everyone can see the picture of winning honors in the Olympic arena."
However, behind the success is more unknown hard work and perseverance. Li Yan's body and mind were under tremendous pressure. "In the field of coaching, there are very few female coaches, and when it comes to conducting on the sidelines, almost all male coaches are in command, which is a challenge, but as an opponent, you have to fight. Once female coaches are done, they must have their own characteristics. ”
Li Yan
Changing identities is a big responsibility
In 2017, Li Yan was unanimously elected president of the Chinese Skating Association, and in 2019, she was elected as a member of the Chinese Olympic Committee, and now she is responsible not only for short track speed skating, but also for speed skating. Now, the preparation for the Winter Olympics to ensure the short track speed skating and speed skating national teams is the first task of the Chinese Skating Association.
"As a skating association, in the context of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, we have three main aspects of work, the first is to ensure the preparation of the national team, and it is our job to compete for gold and silver in the Olympic arena, and it is also our ultimate goal. In addition, we are constantly building various event platforms to give athletes a way to rise. Finally, in response to the call to drive 300 million people to the ice and snow, how to attract more children to participate, and let them get the fun of sports and get progress. I also believe that with the opportunity of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, in the post-Olympic era, our China's ice sports will lead the development of ice sports in the world. ”
"Olympic Story Club" picture
Source: Beijing News Sports | intern reporter Zhuo Ran
Edited by: Zhuo Ran
Process Editor: Wu Yue