In the weather of minus 20 degrees, "lonely" slides dozens of kilometers in the deep mountain snow valley.
For Chinese cross-country skier Wang Qiang, this is a familiar routine in training.
In a four-year cycle, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will close on February 20.
On February 24, Wang Qiang appeared on the field in Helsinki, Finland.
Until the Dragon Boat Festival holiday that just passed, he also spent it in external training.
Wang Qiang is also familiar with this busyness and hard work.
Unlike most athletes from the Northeast, although he was born in Heilongjiang, Wang Qiang did not have many memories of ice and snow in his childhood.
It was not until a chance at the age of 14 that he really knew skiing for the first time, and since then he has regarded cross-country skiing as a lifelong career.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
In Wang Qiang's mind, 2022 is destined to be an unforgettable year.
Because of a foul penalty, he hated the Olympics, and years of hard work failed to achieve the moment of his dream; with this "anger", he made a blockbuster in the World Cup, and years of hard work finally paid off.
From accidental contact with cross-country skiing at the age of 14, to winning the World Cup silver medal at the age of 29, Wang Qiang spent 15 years accomplishing what he had always dreamed of: becoming the first Chinese athlete to stand on the podium of the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup, and to win the gold medal for Chinese cross-country skiing. The leap-forward breakthrough has filled a large gap for China's ice and snow sports.
Engaged in cross-country skiing for 15 years, and made unimaginable efforts.
In a recent conversation with China-Singapore Sports, Wang Qiang shared with us the reasons that prompted him to persevere.
At the age of 29, he is eager to continue to burn himself, let Chinese cross-country skiing take a few steps forward, and let young athletes see more hope.
China-Singapore Sports: You were born in Yichun, Heilongjiang, and it seems that the road to winter sports will come naturally. Why choose the relatively unpopular cross-country skiing? After practicing for many years, what experiences have impressed you?
Wang Qiang: Although I am from the Northeast, my hometown is a small town, so I didn’t have access to skiing and skating when I was a child, and I didn’t know much about ice and snow sports.
Before the age of 14, I ran at school every day.
In addition to participating in other sports, but still mainly running.
When I was 14 years old, as a student, I went to Yichun Sports School to participate in track and field competitions and competed with many professional athletes.
The competition events are 800 meters and 1500 meters, and my results are good.
After the game, two coaches approached me.
One was from athletics and the other was from skiing, and the two asked about my intentions.
After discussing with my parents at home, I finally chose to ski.
Because skiing was relatively unpopular at that time, it may be better to get results.
And just like that, I was drafted into the cross-country ski team.
The 2017 experience has impressed me the most over the past few years.
Before that, I was playing domestically, not international.
In 2017, I had the honor to follow the national team to Finland for training and competition, which gave me a lot of baptism and inspiration.
The picture shows Wang Qiang in the game, taken by reporter Tomita of China News Agency
China-Singapore Sports: At the Beijing Winter Olympics, you worked with your teammates more than once to refresh China's best cross-country skiing results. Unfortunately, in the individual sprint competition, you were out early due to a foul. How do you evaluate your performance in this Winter Olympics?
Wang Qiang: I am quite satisfied with my performance, and I played well.
The most important thing is that my hard work and hard work over the years are recognized, which makes me very gratified.
However, for the results of the sprint race, I personally cannot accept it at all.
These four years have been very hard, and I know best in my heart how much effort I have put in, but I didn’t expect it to end in such a way.
Judging from the preliminaries for the Winter Olympics, my results are very high.
On the day of the competition, the state was also very good, and the results were faster than before.
If I can make it to the finals, I believe I will win a medal, but I didn't expect this to happen in the end, which is a pity.
Regarding the penalty, I really don't understand, and we also communicated with the referee.
In fact, I didn’t have much thought at the time, but I will think a lot in my mind later.
After all, four years of hard work are just for one Olympic Games. I want to prove myself, and I also want to make a breakthrough in cross-country skiing in China.
In the days after the game, I cried alone in the room, and I never felt that way.
But there is still a long way to go. I told myself not to dwell on the past, but to do a good job in the present. There are still the World Cup games to come.
After reorganizing my mood, I rushed to the next arena.
The picture shows Wang Qiang in the game, taken by reporter Tomita of China News Agency
China-Singapore Sports: Beijing is the second stop of your Winter Olympics journey. How do you feel about the two Winter Olympics you have participated in? How have you spent the past four years?
Wang Qiang: During the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, I felt that I was not well-prepared and my training was not systematic enough.
In the competition, I played mediocrely, and the results were very backward.
In this year's Beijing Winter Olympics, no matter in confidence, physical fitness or other aspects, I am ready and hope to achieve a breakthrough for China's cross-country skiing.
For the past four years, we have been in a closed training environment.
I am pure and have firm dreams.
Every day I tell myself that today is better than yesterday, and that's what I'm after.
In the past few years, our training volume has increased year by year, and the total number of kilometers is about 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers per year.
Even running 40 kilometers in the morning and skating 50 kilometers in the afternoon, we can do it.
It's a lot of training, and we've done a tough job.
The team has hired top international coaches and carefully designed a training plan for us, which has gone through the entire Winter Olympics step by step.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
China-Singapore Sports: After the Beijing Winter Olympics, you went to the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup non-stop, and won the silver medal in Drammen, Norway, becoming the first Chinese athlete to stand on the podium of the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup. How did you feel at that time?
Wang Qiang: After the Winter Olympics, I was very angry and hoped to prove myself in the World Cup.
I have been giving myself psychological hints, telling myself that I can definitely break all this, and my whole person has been inspired again.
It was this strong belief that supported me to perform at my level in Drammen.
Many people at the scene couldn't pronounce my name, so they kept shouting "China Wang".
After I got this silver medal, I don't remember all the hardships and tiredness that I paid in the past, I only have that moment in my heart.
China-Singapore Sports: It has been 15 years since you came into contact with cross-country skiing. How do you view your own experience over the years?
Wang Qiang: This is a long road.
Repeatedly doing something every day, not exposed to too many new things.
Day after day, year after year, for 15 years.
The achievements I have achieved now are also due to the dedication of these years.
I have not been home to reunite with my relatives for 15 Chinese New Years.
My family has always been very supportive and trusting in me, and they have given me the greatest encouragement, which is also a motivation.
I am a person with dreams, and I have never compromised on the road of dreams.
Now that I have persevered for so long and I have just achieved good results, I want to continue to work hard and win the World Cup, which is the reason why I continue to persevere.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
China-Singapore Sports: In your mind, what kind of project is cross-country skiing?
Wang Qiang: Cross-country skiing is a very comprehensive event, which especially tests athletes.
In my opinion, to be an excellent cross-country skier, you need to have the ability to run long distances, the coordination ability of dancing, and the special strength of gymnastics. All three are indispensable.
Cross-country skiing is also a lonely sport.
Whether at home or abroad, training is in the mountains for a long time, and I go to slide alone.
I love cross-country skiing, and I'm used to the loneliness.
Cross-country skiing is very popular in Europe, and there are tens of thousands of spectators at the competition.
For reasons such as limited venues, cross-country skiing is relatively unpopular in China.
If there are no outstanding achievements, it will not be able to attract everyone's attention.
I want to popularize cross-country skiing, which is my greatest wish.
I hope that by getting good results in the World Series, helping cross-country skiing develop in China, and giving young athletes hope, this is all I can do now.
China-Singapore Sports: What are your expectations for the Milan Winter Olympics cycle?
Wang Qiang: In the next four years, we will continue to seek new breakthroughs.
I am now in a bottleneck period, and to make a breakthrough in my grades, I need to put in more efforts than ordinary people.
But for the past four years, I've tried that feeling.
Young athletes are also looking at me.
I want to be a role model for them through my own efforts.
As I said just now, the most important thing is to let them see hope and see hope in China's cross-country skiing.
This summer, I want to train with elite athletes abroad, which will help me improve and prepare for next season.
This winter, my goal is to become a World Cup champion.
As for the Milan Winter Olympics, all I can do is focus on the present moment, do my job well, and go forward one step at a time.
(Reporter Yue Chuan)