Chinanews.com, Tianjin, February 23rd, title: Chinese college students shine on the ice and snow in the world arena and reach new heights
Author Zhang Shaoxuan
On February 23, 1992, China won a medal in the Winter Olympics for the first time. Athletes Ye Qiaobo and Li Yan used three silver medals to make "Chinese voices" in the Winter Olympics.
On February 23, 2023, during the lunch break, Zhang Detian, who had just finished training in the morning, carefully put away his skates and other equipment, and greeted reporters cheerfully when he walked out of the ice rink.
"I was not born in 1992, but the coach told us about the past. As athletes, the predecessors are always the goal of our struggle."
No. 111 Chinese player Zhang Detian competes in the 31st World University Winter Games.
Photo provided by the interviewee
In the Tianjin Jizhou Training Base, Zhang Detian, who just returned home after participating in the 31st Universiade Winter Games held in the United States (hereinafter referred to as the "Great Winter Games"), chatted about the first time participating in an international competition, and his eyes were still shining with excitement of light.
"This time, our Chinese college student sports delegation sent 49 people, including 24 athletes, to participate in short-track speed skating, women's curling, and snowboarding in three major events and 11 minor events, and finally won 1 gold and 2 silver 1 bronze. My short track speed skating team won a silver medal in the women's relay event. Although I didn't win a medal, I also entered the final of the 2000-meter mixed relay. It was my first time to enter the international arena, and Excellent college students from all over the world competed together, and I fell in love with ice and snow sports even more, and I also strengthened my belief in fighting for it for life." Zhang Detian said.
Chinese college students shine in the Winter Games
The Great Winter Games to be held in 2023 is the first international comprehensive university sports event that China organizes to participate in after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
After three ice speed selections and two land physical fitness selections, Zhang Detian was selected for the list of the Chinese representative team for this winter meeting.
Standing out from the competition of nearly a hundred people, for Zhang Detian, happiness is also accompanied by a little tension.
"Being selected for the national team, I really experienced what it means to jump up with excitement. Of course I will be nervous, because I understand that I represent the style and sports level of Chinese college students, and I instantly have a sense of responsibility and national honor."
Zhang Detian at the 31st World University Winter Games.
Photo provided by the interviewee
Some things that used to be very abstract became concrete when Zhang Detian stood on the international arena.
He remembers his excitement when he saw on TV that Ren Ziwei won the men's short track speed skating 1,000-meter competition and Li Wenlong won silver in the Beijing Winter Olympics.
And when he stood on the track of the Great Winter Games, he said that he was calm. At that moment, he suddenly had no distracting thoughts, only the track in front of him and the finish line in the distance.
The so-called athletes can be very calm when they are excited, and they can become more determined when they are eager. This is the unique characteristic of athletes.
When they first arrived in the United States, jet lag was a big challenge for Zhang Detian and his teammates.
Can't sleep at night, sleepy during the day.
But in order to maintain a good competitive state and complete daily pre-match training on time, they must adapt as soon as possible.
So Zhang Detian and his teammates focused more on self-regulation, devoting more energy to daily practice and technical and tactical drills.
"When a person is highly concentrated, time becomes irrelevant. After relaxing, the sudden fatigue can also help us fall asleep faster at night." Zhang Detian shared his little secret.
At the Winter Games, Zhang Detian participated in both individual and collective events, and entered the semi-finals in the 5,000-meter men's relay and the final in the 2,000-meter mixed relay.
The enthusiastic atmosphere in the arena and the cheers from the audience overturned the roof also made these young Chinese athletes excited.
Different from the competition for gold and silver in various countries at the Winter Olympics, the arena of the Great Winter Games is full of youthful atmosphere, and there is also a kind of "the world is concentric circles, and the circle of friends is full of love". "The warm atmosphere.
College students from all over the world gathered together to compete and to deepen exchanges and understand each other.
During the Winter Games, college students from different countries often came to greet the Chinese team members, expressing great interest in the development of Chinese sports and Chinese culture.
At that time, Zhang Detian would give these new friends the small gifts he carried with him, and would also share Chinese New Year customs with them.
Outside the 31st World University Winter Games, Zhang Detian (in red clothes) communicated cordially with university students from various countries.
Photo provided by the interviewee
The handicrafts with Tianjin characteristics have been loved by many foreign college students, and they also donated their country's badges to Zhang Detian.
The exchange of small gifts is not only a memory, but also an opportunity for college students from all over the world to understand China and yearn for this civilized and ancient country.
"When we take pictures on the field, there will always be foreign players we don't know who come to take pictures together. The Winter Games is like a big family. Everyone makes friends and knows each other and each other's country. We Chinese college students are 'hot spots'. "
In Zhang Detian's view, in recent years, China's ice and snow sports have gradually gained their place in the world, and the better and better results have also impressed the world.
At the Great Winter Games, Chinese college students were confident, self-loving, and self-reliant, but also modest and gentle. They brought the demeanor of Chinese college students to the field and to the other side of the ocean. This was his happiest feeling.
Believe that China has the ability to become a big country of ice and snow
Zhang Detian, who was born in 2000, has been fond of ice and snow sports since he was a child. He often took his parents to take him to the ice rink.
It is this kind of drive that made him become attached to ice and snow since he was a child, and his parents followed his wishes. Zhang Detian made up his mind to embark on the road of competitive sports since he was a child.
With excellent sports genes, he is the best among his peers in terms of starting speed and physical flexibility, and he also knows that he still needs to continue to improve his physical fitness.
He has been training with a professional team, and when he applied for university, he chose the ice and snow sports major of Tianjin Institute of Physical Education.
After entering university, whether it is ice training, special training, strength training or physical training in daily training, Zhang Detian will set standards for himself and ask himself to do better on the basis of the coaches' regulations.
He said that there will be times when he can't stand the high-intensity training. At that time, he will think of his dreams and original intentions, and think of the highest podium he will hit in the future.
Zhang Detian, a member of the Chinese short track speed skating team, participated in the 31st World University Winter Games.
Photo provided by the interviewee
"I participated in the selection for the Beijing Winter Olympics, but I failed because of my own strength. I am still full of pride when I see the outstanding performance of Chinese athletes in the Winter Olympics. At the same time, I also see the future goals. I believe that one day I will go to the The five-star red flag flutters high in that dream stadium."
Confidence in myself stems from my determination in China's ice and snow sports.
Zhang Detian was the first batch of athletes recruited by the speed skating team of Tianjin Winter and Water Sports Management Center. There were only four players when he joined the team.
After just over a year of formation, there are now more than 60 people in the team. Taking Tianjin as an example, ice and snow sports have shown a trend of rapid development.
"In recent years, ice and snow sports in Tianjin have flourished. The number of outstanding athletes in our short track speed skating team has continued to increase, and we have several national coaches. The training venue in Jizhou is also the top training and competition venue in China, and has hosted a number of weight events. The development of ice and snow sports in Tianjin is also a reflection of the development of ice and snow sports in China, and we will definitely continue to move towards a more top-notch direction.”
Zhang Detian’s thinking coincides with that of many ice and snow sports practitioners. They have a clear, rational and frank understanding of the future, are full of wisdom, and are dedicated and dedicated to promoting the ice and snow industry.
There is also a kind of sincerity, love for ice and snow and respect for sports, sincere and frank treatment.
The idea of these people is very simple. They hope that more people will enter the world of ice and snow to feel this "cold warmth", open their eyes and hearts, and experience the most authentic fun that nature bestows on people.
Just like what Zhang Detian said to the reporter at the end, there is nothing difficult in life. Every time you step on the ice rink, the cold and hard ice surface can bring you a hearty enjoyment and make you forget all your troubles.
Ice and snow have temperature, take a deep breath, the cold touch makes people sober, the temperature can communicate with the heart, and it is natural and comfortable.
(over)