HENGCHENG, South Korea, January 31 (Xinhua) -- After winning gold and silver medals in the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe competition at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon Province on the 31st, Chinese teenagers Liu Yishan and Chen Zihan said that their idols are Gu Ailing and hope to continue to follow in the footsteps of their idols.
On January 20, 2020, China's Gu Ailing won the championship in the women's halfpipe freestyle skiing final at the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Yang "I am really happy to receive the same award as Gu Ailing at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, and I am one step closer to my idol! Liu Yishan, who won the gold medal, said. At the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gu Ailing also won gold in the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe.
If I meet Gu Ailing in the competition, I will not be afraid, I will play my level and seize the opportunity to show myself. Liu Yishan continued.
If you compare with Gu Ailing, you may still be a little nervous, but when you compete with great players, you have to focus on doing your best. In fact, this is also following the steps of idols. Chen Zihan, who won the silver medal, said.
Liu Yishan, 16 years old, only started practicing freestyle skiing three years ago, and his technical level has grown rapidly in a short period of time.
On January 31, Chinese player Liu Yishan in the final. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ming "When I first came into contact with this project, I liked this feeling, it was very fun. The feeling of flying in the air, even a little weightless, is still as fun as it was when I first experienced it. Liu Yishan said.
Liu Yishan said that because she has not been in freestyle skiing for a long time, she has experienced many difficulties in the process of practicing halfpipe skills, but she has been trying to overcome and improve herself.
Skiing in the halfpipe is honestly very different from normal skiing. But I didn't feel scared, maybe I was a little nervous when I practiced new moves, but more of a yearning for new moves. Liu Yishan said.
Chen Zihan, who is now only 14 years old, practiced martial arts before taking up freestyle skiing six years ago.
On January 31, Chinese player Chen Zihan was in the final. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ming "There are also somersaults in wushu, and wushu is also a scoring event, so I think it is quite similar to freestyle skiing, and it is also very ornamental. When the reporter asked if some of the movements in freestyle skiing were like the "light skills" in martial arts, the youngster responded: "Yes, that kind of take-off and spin are indeed very similar." ”
Talking about their plans to hit the Milan Winter Olympics, both youngsters said that they will work harder to prepare for the competition and fight for a place in the competition.
Next, I want to hit my highest difficulty, hit my limit, is to see where my limit is, to see where my highest point of performance is. Liu Yishan said.
Champion Chinese player Liu Yishan (right) and runner-up Chinese player Chen Zihan at the medal ceremony on January 31. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ming But on this night of victory worth celebrating, both youngsters decided to relax themselves by participating in cultural and recreational activities in the Winter Youth Olympic Village.
There are a lot of interesting cultural and recreational activities in the Winter Youth Olympic Village, and you can also learn some knowledge, such as anti-doping and the like. Liu Yishan said.
We also went to exchange pins (badges) and got to know a lot of people. Chen Zihan continued.
If we don't understand how to communicate with athletes from other countries, we use translation software and then use our hands to make gestures, which is actually not that difficult, because everyone has a lot of fun. Liu Yishan took over the conversation again.