HOHHOT, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- After Jin Boyang finished the team event's men's singles free skate at China's 14th National Winter Games, hundreds of dolls flew out of the stands onto the ice, creating a rain of dolls on Thursday.
Jin advanced to the free skate after finishing Wednesday's short program on top. Exiting the arena with a relaxed demeanor and leading by over 20 points in the free skate, Jin contributed to Team Beijing's victory, securing a team gold.
When asked to rate his performance, he smiled and said, "80 points."
"Everything worked out today. Since there are two more programs to go, I believe I can perform well and make adjustments for the men's singles," said Jin.
Since the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships earlier this month, Jin has been battling health issues. "I've been down with a cold, and last week, I even had a fever, which has been tough on my body," explained Jin.
As a two-time world championship bronze medalist and the fourth-place finisher at PyeongChang 2018, marking China's best result in men's singles figure skating at the Olympics, Jin remains a stalwart in China's men's singles scene despite recent setbacks.
Following his ninth-place finish at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Jin underwent appendicitis surgery and dealt with injuries. His training base shifted to Canada, forcing him to adapt to a new environment.
But the veteran embraced a new start.
This season, Jin's free skate music continues from the previous season, titled "This." "The arrangement adds a cello sound to the acoustic guitar base, and the incorporation of piano makes it feel like the rainbow coming after the storm," he explained.
He sees this piece as reflective of his experience training in Canada. "Everything is fresh: new surroundings, a new lifestyle, a new team."
"After training abroad, I've gained a new understanding of myself, and I see figure skating in a new light," Jin said, adding that if he were to coach, he might adopt a completely different approach to help kids build a strong foundation.
Recently, Jin's competitive form has improved. Having claimed victory at the Golden Spin of Zagreb last December before finishing fifth at the Four Continents Championships, Jin's mindset shifted and become tougher.
"I'm not bothered by others' opinions anymore. As an athlete, I strive harder each day than the last, and achievement brings me happiness," said Jin.
"My aim is to continue practicing in the current rhythm, maintaining a good state of mind and performance in competitions and training," he concluded. ■
