Xinhua News Agency, Hebei Chongli, February 19th: Only love can last for a long time – Inventory of the top ten veterans of the Beijing Winter Olympics
Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhou Wanpeng
The Beijing Winter Olympics is drawing to a close. While the younger generation is emerging and shining, those veterans who are “retrograde” also use persistence and love to write tear-jerking stories and pass down the Olympic spirit from generation to generation.
1. Claudia Perchstein (49, German speed skater)
On February 19, Germany’s Claudia Pechstein celebrates the finish of the women’s speed skating group start final at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cheng Tingting
The 49-year-old “speed skating aunt” Claudia Perchstein finished last in the women’s 3000-meter speed skating competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics, but she was like a winner, welcoming her own moment of glory – she She is the oldest female Winter Olympic athlete in history. She participated in the Winter Olympics eight times and won a total of 5 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes.
To go is to win. “The grades don’t matter anymore, what matters is that I got here and skated to the finish,” Pechstein said.
2. Jacqueline Moran (46 years old, Brazilian cross-country skier)
On February 10th, Jacqueline Moran participated in the women’s 10km cross-country skiing (traditional technique) competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Huhu
Competing in five Winter Olympics and three Summer Olympics, 46-year-old Brazilian Jacqueline Moran accomplished the feat as an athlete. Moran started her Olympic career in mountain biking at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and four years later in Beijing, she finished 19th.
At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Mo Lang successively participated in the women’s sprint (free technique) and women’s 10km (traditional technique) cross-country skiing competitions. “The flame in my heart is still burning, and I am still very eager to participate in the Olympics.” Moran’s next goal is the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics.
3. Brad Goodhue (41, Canadian curling player)
Canada’s Brad Gushoe competes during the men’s bronze medal curling match at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 18.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Jingqiang
He was involved in curling at the age of 18, won the gold medal in his first Winter Olympics at the age of 25, and became a legend; after 16 years, he won the bronze medal in the Winter Olympics at the age of 41, continuing the legend – this is the captain of the Canadian men’s curling team Gu Xiu Winter Olympics experience. Why so twists and turns? This is because Canada has many curling talents, and qualifying for the Winter Olympics is no easier than winning a medal at the Winter Olympics.
“After many years, looking back on the long journey of life, I will see this bronze medal next to the gold medal 16 years ago, and I will be thrilled for my unrepentant dedication. My children will also see, and will know, arrived at What hard work and dedication it takes to dream.”
4. John Clare (41, French alpine skier)
On February 7, the runner-up of the men’s downhill event in alpine skiing, France’s Johann Clare at the medal presentation ceremony.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Bin
At the age of 41, standing on the podium of the Winter Olympics for the first time in his life, French alpine skier John Clare explained the meaning of persistence with a silver medal. In the first three Winter Olympics, Clare’s best result was 18th in the men’s downhill in Pyeongchang.
This time, he, who had never won, realized his dream and became the oldest alpine skiing medalist in the history of the Winter Olympics. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 20 or 41. It’s an Olympic medal, it’s a good memory.”
5. Martins Ducours (37 years old, Latvian sled racer)
On February 11, Latvia’s Martins Dukours competes in the men’s bobsleigh competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fei
Since he started his sports career at the age of 14, the steel frame sled has become a mount for Dukours to surpass himself and chase his dreams. With 61 World Cup championships and 10 World Cup championships, Dookus has won the title of “Superman” in the industry. However, in the Beijing Winter Olympics, “Superman”, who has previously won two silver medals, has never been able to achieve the last step.
On the “Xueyoulong” track, he finally ranked seventh, ending his fifth Winter Olympics trip in regret. After 23 years of racing on the track, “Superman” left behind not only persistence but also love.
6. Lindsay Jacobellis (36, American snowboarder)
On February 12, Lindsay Jacobelis of the United States was in the game. The American team of Nick Baumgartner and Lindsay Jacobellis of the United States won the snowboard slalom chase mixed team competition.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Chang
16 years ago, she regretted losing the gold medal because she forgot her love for “showing off her skills” after taking the lead. After the baptism of five Winter Olympics, 36-year-old Jacob Bellis finally fulfilled his dream of gold medal and ascended to the top podium of the women’s snowboard obstacle pursuit event at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Three days later, Jacob Bellis and his 40-year-old compatriot Nick Baumgartner formed the “oldest” group in the United States, beating a group of “young people” in the mixed team event of the newly added obstacle chase, and crowned again. Falling down again and again, standing up again and again, in Jacob Bellis’ heart, despite the twists and turns along the way, the dream has never changed.
7. Irene Wooster (35, Dutch speed skater)
Irene Wooster of the Netherlands competes in the women’s 1000m speed skating final at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 17.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Jianwei
The old is strong, the sword is not old – the veteran of the five dynasties of the Winter Olympics, the Dutch speed skating star Irene Wooster is one of the outstanding representatives. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Worcester defeated the generals without being favored by the outside world. With a strong performance that broke the Olympic record, he defended the gold medal in the women’s 1500m speed skating. In addition, she helped the Netherlands win the bronze medal in the women’s team pursuit.
With 6 gold medals and 13 medals, Worcester became the athlete with the most medals in speed skating in the history of the Winter Olympics. She said: “I hope more people believe that age is not a problem, as long as you have the ambition to win the championship, you can do it!”
8. Watanabe Xiaodou (33 years old, Japanese Nordic biathlon)
On February 16, the third runner-up Japanese athlete Akio Watanabe was at the medal presentation ceremony of the Nordic Biathlon individual competition in the Beijing Winter Olympics in the Ski Jumping + Cross-Country Ski 10 km.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Dai Tianfang
In the world map of Nordic Biathlon, the appearance of Akatsuki Watanabe changed the original pattern of the Nordic tyrannical civil war in this project.
As a representative of Asian forces, Watanabe Xiaoto won 2 silver medals in Sochi and Pingchang. After moving to Beijing, he once again wrote his name into the history of the Winter Olympics for the fifth time, winning 2 bronze medals in the individual big jump + 10km cross-country skiing competition and the team competition. “I want to make Nordic biathlon a popular sport that gets more young people involved, which is more important than individual achievement.”
9. Xu Mengtao (31 years old, Chinese freestyle skier)
On February 15, Chinese champion Xu Mengtao presented a medal for women’s aerial skills in freestyle skiing at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Huhu
After a long wait of 12 years, Xu Mengtao won the coveted gold medal in the “field at the door”, achieving a breakthrough of “zero” gold medals in the Chinese women’s aerial skills in the Winter Olympics.
From the early 19-year-old to the Winter Olympics, to the fourth expedition at the age of 31, Xu Mengtao has never changed his original intention or lowered his goals in the face of injury or slump. With 27 World Cup championships, 1 Winter Olympic gold medal, and 2 Winter Olympic silver medals, she cultivated the most beautiful peach blossom in the cold wind with perseverance and sweat. “In the past 20 years, I have only done one thing right – persevering because of love, and persevering because of dreams.”
10. Qi Guangpu (31 years old, Chinese freestyle skier)
On February 17th, Chinese champion Qi Guangpu poses at the award ceremony of the men’s aerial skills medal in freestyle skiing at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mou Yu
On October 20, 2021, Qi Guangpu made his wish to win gold at the Winter Olympics on his 31st birthday. As the “world‘s most difficult person” in the freestyle skiing aerial skills project, at that time, he was a world champion, a World Cup champion and other honors, and there was only one corner of the “Grand Slam puzzle” – the Winter Olympics gold medal.
Four months later, for the fourth time in the Winter Olympics, Qi Guangpu lived up to expectations and won the gold medal. Ten years of constant persistence and love, he finally completed his self-transcendence and helped the Chinese freestyle skiing aerial skills team to achieve success in the Beijing Winter Olympics.
[Editor in charge: Xu Dan]