Qiaobo YE

My first encounter with speed skating altered the course of my life. All the years when I was an athlete, my beloved friend, speed skating, enriched my life and taught me to be generous and open-minded to the world, to share and express my gratitude to everyone who supported me during difficult times. Many years after my retirement, the medals and trophies I won became dull, sometimes forgotten in the corner. However, the accolades that I earned through my hard work and dedication always inspire young people who are feeling low, who are lost in hesitation and hard situations, when they are about to give up – this is an unexpected bonus outside the arena, and it is even more significant and valuable than the medal itself.

Except for the Olympics, there are no other places or international events in the world that bring together peace-loving people who are from various countries with different religions, faiths and cultures. During the Olympics, the world is enveloped in a beautiful spirit of common humanity when global cultures communicate and integrate without segregation or hierarchy. People flee from the quagmire of war, to abandon bias, prejudice and hypocrisy, so that the Olympics become a big family full of love, warmth and happiness.

For me, the Olympic Games are not only a sport competition, they also have a unique educational function. It is a passionate and challenging moment, where people are brave and confident, trying their best and never giving up. The expressions of Olympism can be passed on to people from all walks of life. Most essentially, the introduction of such positive values is truly important for the development of society.

If I could drift back to the past, I would wish that I could get training in a more scientific way and have more time for reading books, studying, entertaining and doing things that I really love to do, instead of always training in the freezing temperatures of minus 40 degrees, and exercising for more than eight hours per day! Although it has been many years, I think I would still choose speed skating, because it really made my life more colourful and brought me unforgettable memories for my future.

Sports require explosive force, power, speed, animated movement and the balance between tension and relaxation; the creation of art needs dynamic spirituality as well as the innate ability of comprehension. Both require perseverance, persistence and endurance. When I was on the ice, I was very vigorous, determined and disciplined; I was eager to win. Yet my artistic creation guides me to another dimension to understand the world, time and space. When I paint, I just let my hand move romantically and spontaneously. The world in my eyes is very delicate and graceful, I also become immersed in the perceptive atmosphere of Zen.

The Olympics are full of passion, while self-challenge is a lifelong enterprise that entails constantly climbing endless mountains, facing new difficulties, and maximising our own potential. There is nothing impossible in the world. I was living my life in a very fast-paced way before. However, now, I allow myself to temporarily leave the time-poor society, to settle down with tranquillity, and to enjoy the true beauty around me. I am now paying attention to public welfare. Through my dedication, I hope I can bring home-like warmth to disabled children, introduce sport to young students to inspire them to enjoy physical exercise and self-challenge. While I am slowing down myself, I also frequently go to nursing homes to express positive mercy. This is where I find my fresh value, I sincerely enjoy my new approach to life, and the beautiful scenery outside the window.