Olympic gold medalist Xu Mengtao made a triumphant return to freestyle skiing, claiming two golds and a silver at the Winter Asian Games while balancing her dual life as an athlete and media icon.
by sportswriters Lu Xingji, Tian Guangyu and Liu Yangtao
HARBIN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- After capturing Olympic gold in freestyle skiing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, many assumed Xu Mengtao would step away from competition. Instead, she surprised fans by embracing the entertainment world, becoming a reality TV sensation and a household name beyond sports.
Her memoir and highly publicized wedding only amplified her fame, solidifying her status as a "national idol" across Chinese social media. But in 2024, Xu made another unexpected move -- returning to competition. She claimed victory at the FIS World Cup in Lake Placid and dominated the Harbin Winter Asian Games, securing two golds and a silver.
Despite her growing media presence, the 35-year-old remains deeply committed to her sport. With 58 FIS World Cup medals and five World Championship titles, she has seamlessly balanced elite competition with a thriving public persona.
"After winning the Winter Olympics, I pursued many plans I had set for myself, like writing my autobiography," she said. "But a lot of what I've done has been spontaneous -- I'm just experiencing life."
Xu insists that both sides of her life -- the athlete and the entertainer -- are authentic. She has mastered the ability to switch gears instantly, bringing focus and intensity to training while embracing relaxation in front of the cameras.
"I have an incredible mindset," she explained. "When I'm on a reality show, I'm fully in that world. But as soon as I return to training or competition, I'm locked in."
Her passion for freestyle skiing remains undiminished. Even during her time away, she was glued to Aerials World Cup broadcasts, often reacting so intensely that her father joked she looked ready to jump through the screen.
Xu recalled an emotional moment on a reality show when a song triggered memories of her struggles-injuries, time spent in a wheelchair, and the scars that remain.
"As I sang, all those years of hardship came flooding back. The performance was one of the most emotional of my life."
Yet the thrill of competition still drives her. She vividly remembers stepping onto the stage at events in the U.S. and Canada, where the announcer listed her achievements before the crowd erupted in cheers.
"That really pumped me up," she said. "It reminded me why I love this sport."
As for how much longer she will compete, Xu remains open-ended. She hopes to continue for as long as her body allows, aiming for a potential fifth Winter Olympics despite being one of the oldest athletes on the circuit.
"The comeback was tough. My team and I had never navigated such a long break before, so we were figuring things out as we went."
But she knows there are no shortcuts, even for an Olympic champion.
"No one is going to give me extra points just because I'm Xu Mengtao," she said. "I have to forget my past achievements and focus on the present. I'm no longer an Olympic champion. I'm just Xu Mengtao, fighting to win every single competition."
For her, the ultimate goal is simple: to leave a lasting mark on aerials skiing.
"Until the day I can no longer ski, I'll keep saying to myself, 'Aerials, remember, Xu Mengtao was here.'" ■
