Chen Xiang

Born and raised in Beijing,I began skating when I was 8 years old.I remember the first time I stepped onto the rink.I glided forward cautiously.“Be bold!”my father shouted.“Take a bigger step!”But I lost my balance and fell again and again.

Even as a young girl,I saw skating not only as a sport,but also as my ticket to a top Beijing middle school.I spent most of my time outside school at the rink.Then one day,two intense years later,I had had enough.I told my parents I couldn't do it anymore.Thankfully,my loving father and mother understood.They let me stop.But even after I quit,guilt and pressure stayed with me.My parents had sacrificed so much for me,and I felt I'd failed their expectations.Even so,I still enjoyed watching figure-skating on TV from time to time.I admired the skaters who won honors for our motherland.They were realizing the dream I used to have.

Ten years later,eventually,inspired by the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games,I put on the skates my father had bought for me.I carefully stepped onto the ice at a rink.And this time,I was skating without pressure,without winning or losing.

To learn to skate,one must get up after a fall.One cannot learn without falling sometimes or often.I did fall again,but 10 years later I've finally gotten up again.I hear the echo of my father's exhortation (敦促) to me as a little girl,“Be bold!Take a bigger step!”

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