Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 10 (Reporter Ding Wenxian, Yu Sihui, Wang Jingyu) At the Beijing Capital Gymnasium over the weekend, every time the camera swept Fan Kexin, the audience would set off a wave of enthusiastic cheers.
On December 9, the runner-up Chinese player Fan Kexin kissed the ice at the medal ceremony. On the same day, the women's 500m final of the 2023-2024 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup Beijing Station was held at the Capital Gymnasium. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fei "I enjoy the feeling of being on the ice rink, every time I skate and every time I walk on the track. Fan Kexin said.
On the 10th, the short track veteran stood on the podium for the third time at the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup in Beijing. She won the bronze medal in the second women's 500m competition, and won a total of 2 silvers and 1 bronze in this competition.
A day ago, at the award ceremony of the first competition of the women's 500m, before putting on the silver medal, Fan Kexin leaned down and kissed the ice affectionately. Soon, "Fan Kexin kissed the ice again" appeared on the hot search.
I love this ice so much!She was happy and emotional, "It feels like I'm back in 2022." ”
In 2022, on the same ice, Fan Kexin and his teammates won the championship in the mixed team relay event at the Beijing Winter Olympics, which was the first gold medal of the Chinese delegation at that event and Fan Kexin's first gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Fan Kexin (right) celebrates after a match on February 5, 2022. On the same day, the Chinese team won the championship in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics short track speed skating mixed team relay final held at the Capital Gymnasium. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Huanzong She became famous early, winning the World Cup and the World Championships, but at the two Winter Olympics in Sochi and Pyeongchang, she was always a little short of the heaviest gold medal. After the mixed relay event of the Beijing Winter Olympics finally came true, Fan Kexin won the bronze medal in the women's 3000m relay with his teammates. After the final, she knelt down in the center of the venue and kissed the ice, contributing a classic scene from the Beijing Winter Olympics.
After a break of more than a year after the Winter Olympics, she "mustered up a lot of courage to return to the team" in May this year. She has worn out her knees and waist, and has been battling injuries, "I can still say this with a smile, but in fact, it has been a difficult time for more than half a year."
But have any athletes ever experienced illness?Standing on the field, everyone's conditions are the same, no matter what injuries you have, they have passed, and you have to go all out. ”
After returning to the international arena this season, Fan Kexin skated the repechage in the first two World Cups, which was the first time in his career of more than ten years. In the third stop in Beijing, there was finally no repechage, replaced by three medals.
On December 10, Fan Kexin (left) communicates with Zhang Jing, head coach of the Chinese short track speed skating team, after the competition. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Zhonghao On the evening of the 9th, walking out of the arena, Fan Kexin excitedly touched the medal: "I thought about it carefully, I have been so honored to fight for the country for 14 years......Hey, I feel like I'm going to cry. ”
She received a WeChat message from her mother: "Girl, are you tired?""Mom said she cried watching the game.
Fan Kexin's heart swelled with thousands of emotions: "If you have a dream, chase it, no matter what the result is." As long as you give, there will be good results. I have to work hard to pursue my dreams, even if I am thirty years old now. ”
Standing at thirty, he is a veteran and a newcomer. In September this year, on his birthday, Fan Kexin said on his social account, "After becoming an athlete, the memory is no longer in years, but in seasons." The years passed quietly in one 'Olympic cycle' after another, and I was constantly transforming. I would like to take this opportunity to give a report on the past 30 years. Gratifying, no regrets, no regrets and no shame. Gratitude, dreams, love and strength. ”
On December 9, Fan Kexin was in the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fei Fan Kexin said that the three Olympic cycles have brought him "too much". "It's calmer and more mature on the field. Now I can not only focus on the game, but also give some of my energy to the young athletes and coaches and put forward my ideas to them. ”
Crossing the threshold of 30 years old, she has a goal in mind that is more important than competitive performance. "Now my teammates are my motivation ......When we stand together on the field, I can feel their mood and give them some information about what to look out for and relieve their tension. That's how I came through when I was younger. ”
Short track speed skating is now not just a competition between Asian athletes, athletes from all over the world are capable of competing for medals, and the quarterfinals are already hard to beat. I see that the women's team has gone from last year's poor results in the tournament to now that everyone is gradually reaching the finals, which is a very big improvement. I hope to bring everyone together and I will do my best to help everyone. ”
Wang Ye, an 18-year-old national team teammate, said: "She is the backbone of the team and the idol of many of us, and she will tell us a lot about her back then." Now the women's team needs us to work together to go further. ”
On December 9, Fan Kexin (first from left) and Wang Ye (second from left) were in the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fei Not long ago, Wang Ye and Fan Kexin posted a group photo on their social accounts ten years ago, when Wang Ye was not as tall as Fan Kexin's shoulders. "Ten years ago, I was so excited to see my idol that I couldn't sleep, and cheered for the Chinese team in the audience. Now, it's an honor to be on the same starting line with idols. Wang Ye said, "When I was a child, I cheered for you, and now, let's cheer together!."”
On the 9th, the two stood on the track of the 500-meter final together and finally separated.
Second and third place. Sometimes I think that it would be nice if I could go back to Wang Ye's age. But I know that I can only enjoy the moment. I really wanted to explore how much potential I had, and I enjoyed the process. Don't let age set a limit on you. ”
How have you been so far at the age of 30?
It's wonderful. Fan Kexin said with a smile.