Keeping it in the family

For Thailand's Boonchan Chanloung and his family, competing in the Winter Olympics once seemed like a distant dream, a dream that they are again fulfilling at Beijing 2022 after taking part in Pyeongchang 2018.

Boonchan's son Mark Chanloung and daughter Karen Chanloung are competing in cross-country skiing for Thailand at the Beijing Winter Olympics, while he serves as the team's manager, and his Italian wife as the physiotherapist.

"We came as a whole family of four. I'm afraid there might be few families like ours at the Games," Boonchan said.

The Thai father is a long-time sports enthusiast. He once cycled 15,000 kilometers around Thailand over 126 days. Longing for ice and snow, he even planned to cycle from Thailand to his wife's homeland of Italy.

With her father's encouragement, Karen started skiing at just 3 years old and began to focus on cross-country skiing when she was 10, while Mark began to take part in skiing competitions at the age of 12.

The Italian-born brother and sister made their Olympic debuts in cross-country skiing at Pyeongchang 2018.

Now the family of four is pursuing its Winter Olympic dreams in Beijing. "I'm very proud to be part of the Thai team. It not only makes our family more harmonious but also brings together Thai people around the world to cheer for our team," Boonchan noted.

Karen, 25, served as one of Thailand's flagbearers at the opening ceremony of Beijing 2022, describing the experience as being like "a dream". She competed in the women's 10km classic and women's sprint free events, finishing 63rd and 61st respectively

"I think I did one of the best sprint races in my career. And I am very happy because I gave my 100 percent," Karen said with visible pride in her eyes, after finishing the sprint free qualification round.

Mark, 27, who entered four cross-country skiing events, admitted that he "felt great pressure" and needed to "make a good start" for his teammates.

"I was really happy to open up the competition for Thai athletes. I think I took the pressure and made it a strength for myself to do well," said Mark.

XINHUA