Keeping the Winter Olympic spirit alive

Team China's Beijing 2022 heroes share keys to their success in bid to inspire next generation onto the ice and snow

The Beijing 2022 feel-good buzz just keeps on giving as the nation continues to build on the success of the Winter Games.

On Wednesday, a group of Team China's Winter Olympic medalists shared their stories of perseverance and glory at Beijing's Shougang Big Air venue in a bid to encourage the next generation to embrace winter sports and chase their dreams.

"I have been practicing snowboarding since I was a little kid. After I knew Beijing would host the 2022 Winter Olympics, I made the Olympics my dream, and I wanted to show the best of myself at the Games," said snowboard superstar Su Yiming, who made history at Shougang in February by becoming China's first Olympic gold medalist in men's snowboard Big Air.

"I participated in my first World Cup back in 2019 when I was 15, also at Shougang Big Air," Su added.

"Back then, I told myself my goal is to compete at Beijing 2022 and win honor for my country. For a long time, China's men's snowboarders were not among the world's elite, but, through my hard work, I want to let the world see that Chinese snowboarding is at the world's top level."

The 18-year-old Su is now a household name in China after capturing gold, as well as slopestyle silver, at Beijing 2022.

Already targeting more success at future Olympic Games and World Cup meets, Su hopes his story can inspire his young fans to aim high, too.

"Before the Beijing Winter Games, I had doubts if I could win the competition, but I achieved my dream of winning gold," Su said on Wednesday.

"I only started my professional career about four years ago, and at that time I had a huge gap to bridge to the world's top snowboarders.

"I kept my dream and I fought hard for it. I was so excited when I finally achieved it. So I want to tell the younger kids here today that you need to find the thing you love. And if you find your passion, you need to believe in yourself and give it your best effort."