Freedom above snow
With the Tokyo Summer Olympics behind us, people are turning their eyes to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, will start in five months. Freestyle skier Gu Ailing, 18, looks to be one of the superstars of the event.
Born to an American father and a Chinese mother, Gu (decide) to compete for China in the 2022 Winter Olympics in June 2019. Just two months later, she bagged her first gold medal for China at the Australia New Zealand Cup. Her strength continued to grow as she won one bronze and two gold medals at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard and Freeski World ChampionshipsMarch.
People say she is (talent). But Gu says that talent counted for (占据) "only 1 percent" of her wins, adding that her hard work is matters. While going to school in San Francisco, Gu could only practice on weekends. She spent eight hours (go) to the ski hill and back, doing her homework on the way and making full use of her time at the hill (practice) skiing.
Gu said she wants to encourage more girls in China to try skiing and other extreme sports, many of which have only been known there for 20 years, according to the Olympics website. She said skiing gives her " (free) and creativity", especially when she perfectly controls her body and does tricks that others cannot do.
Now she (prepare) for the Winter Olympics as a full-time athlete. "Of course, I want to win medals and even golds," Gu said. "But what's (important) is to bring out my own style, enjoy the game and love the sport."
