Inspiration on the ice against all odds

Coaching career

For a while, Ho would sprain his feet while jogging and was unable to jump or rotate on the ice as he once could. Therefore, he chose to restart his career by teaching beginners how to skate.

"To teach kids, I only needed to prop them up to slowly slide on the ice, and I could also strengthen my muscles. And gradually, I was able to learn single jumps from the beginning," he said.

There used to be a rink in Macao that was one-third the size of a standard Olympic rink, but it is currently undergoing renovation. So, in order to prepare for the National Winter Games, Ho traveled to Zhuhai, in South China's Guangdong province, three times a week.

"Luckily, I have two teammates now. Eight years ago, when I was preparing for the 13th National Winter Games, I dared not take a break during training, because I had paid to book out the entire rink and wanted to make full use of it," Ho said, adding that now he could rest while his teammates train. "We can help each other if we're feeling stressed. We feel much happier together," he added.

Although Ho was covered with sweat and his lips turned pale after his free skate, he felt gratified. "I've achieved my goal of skating through my program," he said.

"It's been five years since my postoperative observation, and I have been in a relatively stable condition. Although I don't know what awaits me in the future, I don't think I would leave figure skating."

For now, Ho plans to compete for a maximum of two years and then completely dedicate himself to coaching.

"My major at university is tourism management, and I would like to combine tourism with sports to promote the attractions of Macao, and I would like to start with figure skating," he said.

Xinhua