Snowboard
Snowboard extraordinaire Su Yiming is used to dealing with attention and fame.
No surprise, given the People's Republic of China snow shredder shone at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, winning two medals – including China's first snowboard gold in Olympic history.
The now-19-year-old – who was still 17 when he won his Olympic title, three days shy of his 18th birthday – said being called an Olympic champion has changed his life.
Speaking to Olympics.com, Su said he now feels different being an Olympic champion, and is giving his all to his sport with renewed vigour.
"I have more responsibility on my shoulders: I know that many teenagers or children now regard me as their goal," he affirmed.
"I was the same when I was young, I worked hard following the steps of my idols to reach the level I'm at today. So I know how important idols are to young kids."
Su Yiming on losing – then rediscovering – his motivation
After his Big Air gold and slopestyle silver, Su lost his way, he admitted – as many Olympians and Olympic medallists do right after competing at an Olympic Games.
"At the beginning, I was actually in a relatively confused state. I never thought that I would face winning the title with this type of feeling," Su shared.
"Maybe all I could imagine before the Games was how happy or excited I would be if I won the gold medal, but I didn't expect to be in a very confused state when I really won the title."
Looking back now, the teenager has an idea for why he felt that way – and, as with many of the other athletes who suffer post-Games blues, it had to do with accomplishing long-held dreams.
"I just suddenly felt confused about my goals. I was very clear before in terms of goals, which was achieving the best results in 2022 (at the Olympic Games).
"But after achieving the goal very suddenly, it was difficult for me to find a new goal that was particularly important to me in a very short time."
But don't fret – Su has revealed that the period did not last long for him, and he is back on track already.
"To be honest, at first I had that feeling (lack of motivation) a little. But after a short time, my motivation came back.
"I found the goals that would guide me forward again. So I think I can say that I'm back in very good form now. I have new goals to accomplish, so I am very happy."
While Su may have lost his love for his sport due to losing sight of his goals after winning Olympic gold, he is clear that his re-found love for the sport has not decreased from before.
"I did feel worried about myself during that period, but fortunately, after a while, I gradually regained my love for snowboarding, including the effort to pursue my goals.
"What hasn't changed is my love for snowboarding, and I have kept my original desire for it."
Su Yiming: A natural showman
It turns out Su also knows a thing or two about performing for the cameras.
As a top-level snowboarder, the Chinese is more than used to showing off his tricks in both big air and slopestyle.
But the teenager also has a background in acting – having appeared in several films as a child actor.
Those two sides of Su came together with the release of the Beijing 2022 Official Film, telling the story of last year's Winter Games in the Chinese capital.
Su's achievements in the snowboarding competitions have been recorded for posterity in the Official Film.
"It was a great honour to participate in this documentary film, which lets everyone see some moments that they don't normally get to see," Su said at the film's world premiere during the Beijing International Film Festival in April.
"The film shows you the journey on which we prepared for the Games. I am very happy to see that the process was recorded in this way.
"No matter when in the future, once we see the film, it will help us remember those tense and wonderful moments."