Interview with Ren Ziwei, deputy to the National People’s Congress: Let southern children participate in ice and snow sports at home
Ren Ziwei, a Chinese short track speed skater, at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, he won the men’s 1000m short track speed skating championship, realizing the Chinese team’s “zero” breakthrough in the Winter Olympic gold medal in this event. At this year’s National Two Sessions, Ren Ziwei, as a representative of the “post-95” National People’s Congress, brought relevant suggestions on “combining sports and education” and encouraging young people to go to ice and snow.
From sportswear to formal wear, from the arena to the venue, what are the special observations and experiences of Ren Ziwei who attended the meeting for the first time? During the change of identity, how will he perform his duties and promote the development of ice and snow sports? On March 10, a reporter from the Beijing News interviewed Ren Ziwei.
Produced by the Beijing News “Know Video”
On the Development of Ice and Snow Sports
Let the children feel the joy of ice and snow sports
Beijing News:For you, wearing formal clothes and wearing sportswear represent two identities respectively. What are the different feelings?
Ren Ziwei:It’s a different experience. I spend more time in sportswear, but now wearing formal clothes means that I have an additional identity, which is the representative of the National People’s Congress.
I am a new representative, and it is also my first time to attend the meeting. In the past few days, the first thing I feel is responsibility and mission, and secondly, I am also under a lot of pressure. I am constantly learning every day. I am a deputy to the National People’s Congress in the sports world. There are also outstanding representatives from all walks of life in our Heilongjiang regiment. We must seize all the time to communicate with them and learn from them.
Regarding the performance of duties, I actually read a lot of materials before the meeting, and also consulted some seniors who have experience in performing duties. However, when I really participated in this conference, I had a real understanding and experience of the deputies to the National People’s Congress performing their duties, and that sense of responsibility and mission came spontaneously.
Beijing News:As a new representative, what topics are you focusing on this year?
Ren Ziwei:My job is as an athlete, and this year my main focus is on the topic of encouraging young people to take part in ice and snow.
The successful holding of the Beijing Winter Olympics is an opportunity, driving the ice and snow fever, and many friends in the south have also begun to learn regarding ice and snow sports, but because of the climate, they still lack enough opportunities to participate.
I suggest that local governments can hold some high-level ice and snow events, so that children in the south can also have the opportunity to participate in ice and snow sports at home. At the same time, children from the south can be organized to come to the north through “winter camps” and other forms to participate in ice and snow sports and experience the fun of ice and snow.
In addition, I also suggest that qualified colleges and universities can build their own or jointly build high-level sports teams and hold high-level inter-school ice and snow events, which will have a great role in encouraging young people to participate in ice and snow sports and cultivating ice and snow sports talents. .
In fact, domestic ice and snow sports have developed greatly in recent years. When I was young, there were only regarding 100 indoor ice rinks across the country, but now the number of indoor ice rinks in the country has reached more than 1,400. Everyone can feel that more and more people around us will participate in ice and snow sports in their spare time. As ice and snow sports people, this is a change that we are very happy to see, and it is also a great motivation.
Ren Ziwei, deputy to the National People’s Congress and Chinese short track speed skater.Photo provided by the interviewee
Beijing News:What advice do you have for children and parents who are learning ice and snow sports?
Ren Ziwei:For children, it is to enjoy happiness and enjoy the beauty brought by this sport. I also want to say to parents and friends that encouraging children to participate in sports following studying is a kind of physical and mental relaxation and can also strengthen the body. But everyone’s dreams and pursuits are different. Children will choose their own suitable path, no matter whether they will become professional athletes or world champions in the end, as long as the process is enjoyable and happy, that’s enough.
Talk regarding training and life
“Not every four years, but every day”, down-to-earth for the Milan Winter Olympics
Beijing News:It has been a year since winning the Beijing Winter Olympics. How did you spend this year? How has your life changed since winning the championship?
Ren Ziwei:As an athlete, stepping off the podium is another new start. You have to forget regarding your previous achievements and continue to train on a down-to-earth basis. For us, four years is a cycle, and every year in between must follow our own rhythm, insist on training and rehabilitation every day, and go step by step to the next Milan Winter Olympics.
Although life is getting more and more busy, it is actually more and more fulfilling. In addition to daily training, I also tried many things that I hadn’t tried before, such as being a volunteer, helping small animals in a stray dog shelter, and seeing a lot of scenery in various parts of the motherland.
I also want to introduce to you the Harbin “Liu Li Small Animal Rescue Station”. A little bit to help those little animals. In the past, I mainly donated online. After the Winter Olympics, I finally had the opportunity to help in the field. I also hope that more friends can join in.
Beijing News:It took 8 years from entering the national team to becoming the champion of the Winter Olympics. There will inevitably be some low moments in the middle. How did you get through it?
Ren Ziwei:To adhere. Coach Li Yan often said “not every four years, but every day”. As an athlete, no matter how bad your body is that day, you have to try to do your best. There will definitely be many difficulties and setbacks on the road to pursuing dreams, but you still have to do everything for your dreams.
There is also support from teammates, for me, we are not teammates anymore, but family. We spent almost all of these years with each other. We were sad together, happy together, and stood on the field together. My teammates are my best friends and my best family.
On February 7, 2022, at the Capital Gymnasium, Ren Ziwei won the men’s 1000m short track speed skating championship at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Photo by Beijing News reporter Tao Ran
Beijing News:What are the goals of the new Olympic cycle?
Ren Ziwei:In the near future, I should treat my injuries first, and use my best state to meet the next season. The long-term goal is to play well in every game of my own, and to play well in the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics. It is hoped that through the competition, more people can be inspired to participate in ice and snow sports.
Talking regarding Enlightenment and Hometown
“I don’t think I’m a gifted type”, the secret is to insist on being the best version of myself every day
Beijing News:When did you feel that you were talented and passionate regarding ice and snow sports?
Ren Ziwei:In fact, I have never thought that I was a talented player. It can be seen from my growth process that I am not the kind who “popped” out of nowhere. My secret is to insist on being my best self every day and try my best to complete the training content of each day.
I remember that the first time I went on ice was in elementary school physical education class. I think every kid in Northeast China will have such memories. In winter, the school would pour the ice rink, and the playground became an ice rink overnight.
The first time I went on the ice, I felt a completely different kind of happiness. For me, skating is like flying, as if I might fly, it’s such a simple joy, it makes me feel like my future has limitless possibilities.
Beijing News:So it was your hometown Harbin that provided you with the original “ice rink”?
Ren Ziwei:Yes, ice and snow have been integrated into the blood of every Northeast child, and I also want to do my best to promote my hometown. I hope that everyone will come to the beautiful Heilongjiang, feel the charm of the northern scenery, and enjoy the happiness brought by ice and snow sports.
Many people have just learned regarding the scenery and beauty of Heilongjiang. We will gradually improve the relevant supporting facilities of the tourism industry and improve the deficiencies. Welcome everyone.
Beijing News:If you recommend your hometown to foreign friends, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Ren Ziwei:First of all, I want to recommend Central Street to friends from other places. For Harbin people, although they have been there many times, they still call their friends when they don’t know where to go.
There are many European-style buildings on both sides of Central Avenue, which is very suitable for walking. I will not buy or eat anything along the way, just simply enjoy the feeling of hanging out with friends, which is very relaxing. In the evening of summer, we will walk all the way to the Songhua River. Everyone sits on the river embankment blowing the evening breeze and watching the sunset and sunset glow of the Songhua River. It is very comfortable and comfortable.
There are too many delicacies in my hometown, and it is delicious to eat casually. In addition to pot-packed meat and red sausage, I would also like to recommend casserole pot meat pancakes. This is rare in other places. I recommend everyone to try it. It is very delicious.
Beijing News:What would you like to say to your friends who support you?
Ren Ziwei:I will never disappoint everyone who loves me. There may be many friends or children who regard me as a role model. Since I am a role model, I will definitely try my best to be myself, no matter what my identity is.
Beijing News reporter Jiang Huizi Chen Chao Zhou Bohua
Edited by Liu Mengjie, proofread by Wu Xingfa
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