The name “Shen Xue” is a familiar one in the world of figure skating: she has won many world championships throughout her 20-year partnership with Zhao Hongbo in competitive pairs figure skating. Since retiring in 2012, she has devoted herself to the promotion of the sport. What does it take to win a world championship? And what is the true meaning behind all these titles, trophies, and medals? We sat down with her to find out.
When I asked Shen to share her experience of winning the world championship for the first time, she introduced two experiences: The first time she won the world championship was as the Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The second time was about a year later at the World Championships, and that was the first true world champion between her and her partner Zhao Hongbo.
“You know that my partner and I have won many national and Asian champions in 7 years. After we placed third in the world, it seemed like we were only one step away from the world championship — but we won multiple third places over the next three years before we did it. During that period I once thought that I might not ever win the title.
“The Grand Prix final was held in Russia, and Russia is really strong in figure skating,” she recalled. “Russia has almost monopolized the double skating champions of every world competition for 46 years. They have many talented skaters. The competition is very intense. Even famous Russian politicians Putin and Yeltsin, came to the opening and closing ceremonies. The stands of the Russian team were full of world champions. Only 5 people [from China] went to Moscow — me, Mr. Zhao and our coaches,” she said. “Maybe they didn’t want to put pressure on us and didn’t expect us to win the championship.”
Before the competition, they happened to meet the crew of a visiting Chinese submarine fleet at a restaurant. When their leader found out they she was participating in the worldwide competition, they enthusiastically said that they would come cheer for her. The next day, during the short program, the soldiers were there, shouting and cheering. Although the cheering made her nervous and made her legs stiff, it also aroused her fighting spirit. She delivered a near perfect performance, and came away with her first gold medal. This win was unexpected but pleasant surprise.
Of course, Shen’s figure skating career has had plenty of peaks, she has also had many setbacks and even regrets.
In August 2005, when they were preparing for the upcoming 2006 Torino Winter Olympics, Shen and Zhao trained hard in Kunming. But Zhao’s Achilles tendon suddenly ruptured, a devastating blow to them at the time.
“It was the closest chance we had to win the gold medal,” Shen said. “If we had been able to continue training normally, we would have had at least a 60%-70% chance of winning, due to our experience in previous competitions and our advantage in skills,” she recalled.
Though Zhao’s injury came close to shattering their dreams, their love for figure skating kept them positive. Zhao underwent surgery and had a metal cast put on his injured leg and insisted on continuing to train after the operation.
Training during the postoperative recovery period exposed him to the risk of a second injury – even a slight collision could cause the tendon to rupture again. It was a difficult time for the pair, but they encouraged each other every day. Zhao couldn’t do some movements, so he sat in a chair and did lifting movements to maintain muscle strength, and the pair soldiered on.
Their spirit of persistence finally paid off in gold at the end of 2010, when they won the first figure skating Olympic championship for China. “Whenever you encounter difficulties, you must persevere and persevere again, then success will come to you,” Shen said.
After her retirement from active competition, Shen continued in the field of figure skating without stopping. Shecurrently serves as the chairman of the China Figure Skating Association. When I asked how she promotes the sport, I once again saw the passion in her eyes, the same passion she displayed when talking about her persistence, hard work, and dedication when in competition.
“Many large-scale games are held in professional ice rinks, so it harder for people to connect with figure skating,” she notes. “Therefore, we hold some games on commercial ice rinks in large shopping malls, such as club league competitions, so that when kids and their families go shopping together, they might pass by, and be attracted to see someone skating. It may be such an opportunity that gets kids interested in figure skating.”
She also mentioned an upcoming initiative: the new “National Figure Skating Broadcast Exercise” which will be promoted in various schools during the Winter Olympics. “We have selected professional teachers to make teaching materials in stages, which will then be filmed and promoted in schools and among the general public. We have incorporated the iconic movements of figure skating and explained each of them. So when students or people see these moves in the competition, they will think, ‘I’ve tried this move before.’”
“I hope that the new generation of young figure skaters in China can use figure skating to not only exercise their physical abilities and learn skills, but also to have perseverance and steadfast personalities,” Shen said. “To love you must persevere to the end!”
About the Author
Huihua Lulu Zhou is a high school student at WAB. she loves writing, skating, hiking and cooking. She initiated the Winter Olympic theme report campaign at WAB to help increase her fellow students’ understanding of winter sports through interviewing Olympic athletes.
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