Two-time Olympian and Four Continents silver medalist speed skater Han Mei is gearing up for the upcoming ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. In an exclusive interview, Han shared her journey in the sport, her camaraderie with Japan's Olympic champion Miho Takagi, and her ambitions for the competition.
Born in 1998, Han Mei displayed remarkable potential from a young age. She began professional training at just 10 years old and secured her place on the Chinese national team by 2015. Reflecting on her growth, Han credits her recent progress to joining a new international team.
\"I think first of all, it was because I joined a new international team last season, which was also a great motivation for me, so I made progress,\" Han said. \"I also thought that I couldn't achieve such a difficult goal as standing on the podium, so I think it's still incredible for me.\"
Han's friendship and rivalry with Japan's Miho Takagi have been a significant part of her career. She holds deep admiration for Takagi, both as an athlete and a person.
\"Takagi, I think she is a person you feel is out of reach, but she suddenly appears beside you, helps you, guides you, and chats with you,\" Han shared. \"We also share our experiences, both on and off the ice. I think Takagi is a very self-disciplined, top athlete. She is a very professional athlete with excellent moral qualities, and she has her own obsession with sports like speed skating.\"
Han added, \"She is not what I imagined from seeing her on TV before. When you stay in the same room with her, or spend a long time with her in the same environment, she is not as majestic and serious as she looks on the ice. I believe she really thinks of me as a good friend and a good competitor.\"
Looking ahead to the Asian Winter Games, Han is aiming for the top of the podium. At 26 years old, she recognizes the challenges but remains determined.
\"I'm already 26-years-old in the blink of an eye, which is really scary,\" Han said. \"For me, I still hope that I can win gold medals in every event I participate in at the Asian Winter Games, and I also hope to use this as motivation for myself.\"
Han is also setting her sights on the Winter Olympic Games next year in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
\"I think it is better to do a good job in daily training, and then summarize my experiences more. I think that at the age of 26, the competitive state is actually not the best at this age, but I think that I have already started to engage in psychological warfare. So I hope that I can compete maturely, and have an especially good performance at the Asian Winter Games,\" she concluded.
Reference(s):
Talk Sports: Speed skater Han Mei gears up for Asian Winter Games
cgtn.com
