Olympic Champion Xu Mengtao Reflects on Her Journey and Future Aspirations
Chinese aerials skier Xu Mengtao, who clinched the women's gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, recently sat down with CGTN Sports Scene's Shen Xiang to share her thoughts on her career achievements and future goals.
Since returning to the Chinese national team in April 2024, Xu has made a remarkable comeback. In less than a year, she has secured four gold medals with her teammates at the National Championships and National Cup, and claimed gold at the Asian Cup.
\"These achievements have helped me regain confidence in aerials, the event I am both skilled at and passionate about,\" Xu expressed.
Looking ahead, Xu is set to compete in the upcoming ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin, in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. This event is not only an opportunity to make her home country proud but also a crucial part of her preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
\"The Harbin Asian Winter Games is an important part of our preparation for the Milan Winter Olympics,\" she said. \"I will give it my all, and I am preparing for it step by step.\"
Recalling her golden moment at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Xu became emotional upon realizing she had secured the top spot. \"That moment was from the heart, spontaneous and uncontrollable,\" she recalled. \"After 28 years, from my first encounter with sports at age 4 to winning gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics, my Olympic dream had been deeply embedded in my heart. That moment was an eruption, a release. It felt like all the hard work had finally paid off.\"
Despite her achievements, Xu admitted she hasn't always been the most confident athlete. However, with time, she has grown to have more faith in herself.
\"Xu Mengtao, you've worked hard, but it's all worth it,\" she told herself. \"You're truly amazing. You're excellent, hardworking, bright, and tough. You've done great—achieving more with your limited life. The future will be even more wonderful, and you will provide even greater value to society.\"
As she continues her journey, Xu embraces the challenges ahead with optimism and gratitude. \"This journey has been worth it, and the best is yet to come. A happy life awaits you—take care of your health, maintain a positive mindset, love yourself, love your family, love society, and love everyone who has supported, helped, and encouraged you, especially your fans and friends.\"
Reference(s):
Talk Sports: Olympic champion Xu Mengtao to herself – you're amazing
cgtn.com
