Champions Asked If Chasing Dream Worth It

CHINA DAILY August 27, 2014 Page 7 AFTER NANJING XU QINYU, 15, one of the image ambassadors of IS THE THRILL the YOG and a volleyball player OF BEING AN OLYMPIAN “My dream is getting WORTH THE admitted to a reputable SACRIFICE FOR THESE YOUNG university and have a ATHLETES? happy family in the future. I also dream that people around the world can learn from each other when they pursue and fulfi ll their own dreams. We are not dreaming of competition, but of communication.” LIANG XIAOJING, 17, gold medalist in the women’s 100m from Guangdong province “My dream is to be able to compete against the world’s best sprinters on the highest possible stage at future world championships or even the Olympics. For me, to prove that Chinese or Asians can run at a high level is kind of a fulfi llment of Chinese dreams. I will work hard to reach that goal and hopefully qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.” HUANG JIANGANG, 17, 400-meter runner from Chinese Taipei Champions asked if “My aim is to be a track and fi eld coach for junior athletes or to be a physical chasing dream worth it education teacher in schools. You can’t run for here was a curious theme to questioning on Monday remember, it’s not only the med- a lifetime as a professional night at the fi nal Chat with Champions session of als, it’s also the memories, all you so it’s good to shift your have shared with your coach and focus early to a career after the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Is it really with your teammates. After retir- T ing I remember more the stories sports. I just hope to see worth it, chasing the Olympic dream? than the results,” Estanguet said. more sports exchanges Earlier, Athens 2004 and Bei- across the Straits. That may help make Taiwan and the No one said it in as many blew the whistle on an Italian jing 2008 backstroke gold medal- words, but the sentiment was match-fi xing scandal in 2011. ist Coventry was asked if being mainland closer.” clear. The overwhelming sentiment an athlete automatically means “Have you ever wanted to of the panel was that yes, becom- you are a role model, and she SAYORI MATSUMOTO, quit?” ing an Olympian is well worth was in no doubt. 17, Japanese female walker “Do you regret not having the sacrifi ces, but Estanguet said “You don’t have a choice about more of a childhood?” it was vital that athletes were being a role model. You’re all “My dream is to visit Another posed the question, clear about what they are trying going to be role models when as many countries as “How could you continue in to achieve. you get home. The only choice sport but still have an actual, “I encourage you to maybe bet- you guys have is if you’re going possible and to be able adult life?” ter defi ne your project and make to be a good one or a bad one,” to meet my idol, Usain “When you stand on the Olym- sure you are fi rm in your activ- she said. Bolt (Jamaican Olympic pic podium and you get to see ity and in your life. If you feel Coventry and Estanguet fi n- your fl ag and hear your anthem, too much pressure or too many ished their night by completing champion sprinter). I also those sacrifi ces are well worth it constraints, it’s maybe because the ice bucket challenge, raising have had the chance to to experience those moments,” your project is not well defi ned,” funds for amyotrophic lateral swimmer Kirsty Coventry of Zim- he said. sclerosis research. meet a lot of athletes from babwe said. The Sydney 2000, Athens “I’ve paddled in some really di erent countries and She was joined on the panel by 2004 and London 2012 Olympic cold rivers, so I didn’t think it make friends with some triple canoe slalom gold medal- Games gold medalist also said would be a big challenge, but it ist Tony Estanguet of France and athletes need to strive for more was really cold,” Estanguet said. of them. So, part of my dream has come true.” Italian Simone Farina, the former than just gold medals. professional soccer player who “At the end, trust me, what you — YOUNG REPORTERS PROGRAM.

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