Zhao Jiawen of China competes during Nordic combined Individual normal hill/10km, ski jumping competition round at the National Ski Jumping Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)
Zhao Jiawen, one of the torchbearers that placed the torch in the cauldron on the opening ceremony, made history as the first-ever Chinese athlete to finish a Nordic combined competition at a Winter Olympics. A former cross-country skier, the 21-year-old had to overcome his fears and was crowned national champion before making a groundbreaking appearance at Beijing 2022.
by sportswriters Pan Yi, Zhou Wanpeng, Qin Jing
CHONGLI, Zhangjiakou, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- At the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 4, Zhao Jiawen and Chinese female cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang, both born after 2000, jointly placed the torch in the middle of a giant snowflake-shaped cauldron, which ascended to the top of the Bird's Nest stadium.
On a cold night several days later, Zhao slid across the finish line, becoming the first-ever Chinese athlete to finish a Nordic combined competition at a Winter Olympics.
The first competition of the Nordic combined at Beijing 2022, the individual Gundersen normal hill/10km event, kicked off here on Wednesday night. Zhao, the only Chinese athlete in the competition, finished 43rd.
Although this result may seem lackluster, it represents a big step forward in the development of China's Nordic combined and winter sports more broadly.
Zhao Jiawen of China competes during Nordic combined individual normal hill/10km, ski jumping competition round at the National Ski Jumping Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)
Zhao, 21, not only went beyond himself, but also made a huge leap for ice and snow sports in his country.
Since the first Winter Olympics was held in 1924, Nordic combined has been recognized as one of the most difficult winter events. Courage, skill, physical fitness, endurance and other elements are indispensable.
China established its Nordic combined national team at the end of 2016, and began to seek breakthroughs. However, the process is very difficult. The number of players has declined from 20 to five. At the beginning, even the skis were borrowed from the Alpine skiing teams.
Furthermore, most of the team members were from cross-country skiing. How to overcome the fear of jumping from heights is a major challenge.
At the National Ski Jumping Center, the jumping platform for large hill is 136 meters high and that for normal hill is 115 meters.
"I really want to jump, but when I get to the jumping point, my body just can't move," Zhao once said when recalling his practice at the early stages.
Torch bearers Dinigeer Yilamujiang (L) and Zhao Jiawen set the torch into the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at the National Stadium in Beijing, Feb. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
In the eyes of Chinese team leader Ge Da, Zhao is very strict with himself. Every time the team finishes training, he will go back to the training room to practice alone, and he often does in-depth research by watching videos.
Zhao is the No. 1 Chinese athlete in Nordic combined, the national champion. He has realized his dream of stepping on the stage of the Winter Olympics, and completed his first show.
"Playing on home soil is exciting and fulfilling!" Zhao said. "If we can compete in the next Winter Olympics, we will definitely achieve a greater breakthrough." ■
