Chinese skater pins down favorite memory of Youth Games

For any teenage athlete, competing at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) probably creates memories that will last a lifetime. Not to mention winning a haul of two gold and two silver medals.

Yet, for Zhang Xinzhe, a 16-year-old Chinese short-track speed skater who won four medals at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in South Korea, there are even fonder memories from his first YOG experience — he made friends with Lim Yeo-jeong, a South Korean volunteer at the Games.

And it all started with a pin.

Badge of friendship

The tradition of pin badges stretches all the way back to Athens 1896, the very first modern Olympic Games, and they have become an important part of the culture surrounding the Olympic Games. The act of pin trading helps to bridge cultures by forging connections between people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds.

Located inside both Youth Olympic Villages for Gangwon 2024 — Gangneung and Jeongseon High 1 — Athlete365 House is an essential hub for competitors to meet other athletes and enjoy activities designed to help them maximize their YOG experience. In addition, it's an Olympic pin trading hotspot.

Like his YOG peers, since checking in to the Youth Olympic Village, Zhang frequently visited Athletes365 House. On Jan 20, Zhang and several teammates took part in a VR Experience activity there. Lim and two other volunteers approached Zhang in the hope of getting a pin from China that featured the panda mascot of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Bing Dwen Dwen.

As Zhang had only two pins, he had to ask the three volunteers to play "rock paper scissors" to decide who would get them.

Lim turned out to be the unlucky loser. Seeing that Lim was upset with the outcome, Zhang ran off, acquired a China pin from his teammate Li Jinzi and gave it to Lim.

"I was surprised," Lim recalled. "As a Chinese proverb goes, 'misfortune may be a blessing in disguise', but I never expected it would be fulfilled in such a way.

"The pin is a symbol of true friendship. For me, it will be the most memorable moment from the Youth Winter Olympics," she said.

Next came Zhang's turn to receive a surprise gift.