"If I give up because of the label of 'old athlete', I still don't want to."
Facing the Milan-Cortina D'Ampezzo Winter Olympics 4 years later, Wu Dajing is still full of fighting spirit.
Until now, he is still the world record and Olympic record holder for the men's 500m short track speed skating event.
From Pyeongchang to Beijing, Wu Dajing stood on the top podium of the Winter Olympics twice.
For the Chinese short track speed skating team, his contribution is even more precious than the two gold medals.
With everyone's expectations, when Wu Dajing once again won the first gold for the Chinese sports delegation at the door of his house, he raised his arms and shouted, venting the pressure deposited in his heart.
A few days ago, Sino-Singapore Sports and Wu Dajing started a dialogue, looking back at the way they came and looking forward to the future direction.
01
remove pressure
China-Singapore Sports: In the Beijing Winter Olympics short track speed skating mixed team relay event, the team won the first gold for the Chinese delegation. How did you feel when you crossed the line as the last stick?
Wu Dajing: This is pressure and motivation.
The short track speed skating team is a charge team, since everyone has chosen us, it is obligatory to make a good start for the Chinese team.
This is also my second gold medal in three Winter Olympics, so I'm very excited.
As the last stick in the game, I still seek "stability".
The players who are chasing behind must be faster because they have a target.
At that time, he also had a judgment on the situation. He could catch up with me, but he might not be able to surpass me.
The picture shows Wu Dajing (left) celebrating after the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Mao Jianjun
China-Singapore Sports: Four years ago in Pyeongchang, you crossed the line with an absolute advantage and then raised your arms and shouted. When you won the first gold medal in Beijing this time, you mentioned the word "relieving qi". How do you feel about winning the championship twice?
Wu Dajing: Saying "Relieve Qi" is also a manifestation of relieving stress.
Although I am very excited to win the championship twice, this time I have higher expectations at my doorstep, and I hope to stand on the top podium.
Raising the national flag and playing the national anthem is the goal of every Chinese snowman.
China-Singapore Sports: On your red helmet, there is a golden pattern of Monkey King Monkey King, and you call your helmet "Sun Monkey, the Chinese God of War". What does this helmet mean?
Wu Dajing: This is a very good moral. Sun Dasheng means "invincible". He dares to fight his opponents desperately, so he has a different status in my heart.
The picture shows the Chinese team celebrating after the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Mao Jianjun
China-Singapore Sports: Did you pay attention to other events during the Beijing Winter Olympics?
Wu Dajing: Xu Mengtao's freestyle skiing women's aerial skills competition impressed me a lot. It is not easy to be a veteran who has experienced four Winter Olympics.
I also watched the Sui Wenjing/Han Cong match, and I jumped up the moment the scores were announced.
China-Singapore Sports: The Beijing Winter Olympics have ended. What are the plans for the next stage?
Wu Dajing: Immediately facing the holiday, this year and next year will mainly focus on recovery from injuries.
The preparations for the previous four years were exhausting.
After a while, I still wanted to go home to accompany my parents and take them out for a walk.
The picture shows Wu Dajing celebrating after the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Mao Jianjun
02
the way to come
China-Singapore Sports: In the early days of your athlete career, you used to be a sparring coach for the women's team. How did you convince yourself to stick with it? Do you have an impressive story to share with us?
Wu Dajing: (As a sparring trainer for the women's team) It's been more than a year, and it is still very difficult to be a sparring coach for the women's team.
I also feel anxious and want to surpass others as soon as possible.
At that time, I was still very young, constantly breaking through, trying, and taking mature athletes as my goal.
But that time also brought a transformation to myself, allowing me to improve and change myself from every detail.
Data map: Wu Dajing is in the game.
China-Singapore Sports: I have been preparing and competing before, have you not been home for a long time? In an interview in Pyeongchang, you once said, "I haven't been home for ten years." How does your family help you in your competition and training?
Wu Dajing: I haven't been back for about a year.
I used to be in a hurry to go home every year. It is a good thing for me to be able to spend more time with my family this year.
Over the years, my family has given me more spiritual support.
Whenever I was at a low point and my grades did not meet my expectations, they gave me more company and encouragement.
China-Singapore Sports: During the Olympics, your scarred feet made many netizens very distressed. Do you usually tell your family when you are injured? Do they also go online to watch your messages and what netizens say about you?
Wu Dajing: I was injured before, and my family didn't know much about it.
Athletes have the habit of reporting good news and not bad news since childhood.
Show your good side to your family and leave your injuries to yourself.
When the family saw the scars, they knew they had been injured.
In fact, over the years, everyone's acceptance of athletes has improved significantly, which is the greatest encouragement and motivation for us.
Athletes showed their unyielding energy on the field, and also passed on this sportsmanship to more young people.
Image source: Screenshot of the official Weibo of the TV series "Snow Pear Stewed in Rock Sugar".
China-Singapore Sports: You also participated in the filming of TV dramas before. What was the opportunity at that time?
Wu Dajing: I was on vacation at that time, mainly to promote ice and snow sports, and I participated in the filming of the TV series "Snow Pear Stewed in Rock Sugar".
To experience a different life is also a new challenge for me.
03
Not afraid of the future
China-Singapore Sports: Xu Mengtao and Qi Guangpu are already veterans who have adhered to the four Winter Olympics. You have also participated in three Winter Olympics. How do you view the veteran's persistence?
Wu Dajing: Take Xu Mengtao, for example, she has always had the chance to win the championship in the Winter Olympics. She held her breath and waited for this opportunity.
So this time she was very excited after winning the championship. I was not surprised, and I also cried.
Including Fan Kexin kissing the ice surface after the game, she has also been very persistent and loving these years.
This kind of tenacity has infected many people, and there are many things I can learn from in ordinary life.
The spirit of perseverance of old athletes is not necessarily less than that of young athletes.
After the game, the Chinese short track speed skating team took a group photo on the ice surface of the Capital Gymnasium.
The picture shows a group photo of Fan Kexin, Yang Yang and Wu Dajing.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Cui Nan
China-Singapore Sports: As the captain of the Chinese team, how do you communicate with the players? Taking advantage of the east wind of the Beijing Winter Olympics, how to promote ice and snow sports with ordinary people?
Wu Dajing: I am still very serious in my usual training.
At the national team level, training requires a lot of concentration.
In daily life, I also joke with the players.
The Beijing Winter Olympics were very successful, showing the world the strength of China.
During the competition, many projects achieved breakthroughs.
As an athlete, see more people know about ice and snow sports.
According to the previous statistical survey report, the number of participants in ice and snow sports across the country has reached 346 million.
This is the appeal of the national ice and snow movement.
China-Singapore Sports: You are the world record holder of the 500-meter short track speed skating event and the Olympic record holder. What is the driving force behind your continued impact on the next Olympic cycle?
Wu Dajing: I have always loved this ice rink.
As an athlete, I am quite satisfied.
But if it was because of the label of "old athlete" that made me give up, I would still be reluctant.
I still can't let go of this project in my heart, and I believe that I can continue to contribute.
I am very reluctant to ice rink, and I hope everyone will support me to continue to fight for the fourth Winter Olympics.