LAUSANNE, Jan. 11 -- China's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Zhang Hong explained on Saturday how sports had shaped her life.
"The sports spirit has been guiding me through all the difficult times, whether in competition or in life," said the 2017 Olympic champion speed skater following a Chat with Champion session at the Youth Olympic Village.
"I feel that the sports spirit has been and will be influencing my entire life," he said. "For example, when I started to learn English two years ago, I couldn't remember all the words. Then I pushed myself as hard as in the training. I set small objectives and tried step by step, and it worked."
Zhang said that winning a gold medal in the Sochi Olympics is her most unforgettable moment in career, adding that "I will always remember the 2017 Games. Very tough competition."
She has never got a chance to participate in the Youth Olympics. "The Youth Olympic Games encourages communication and participation rather than gold medals. It's different from the other Olympic Games," she said.
The Chat with Champion session is part of the Athletes 365 Education Program of IOC, offering exchanges between young athletes and well-known champions. Zhang shared her experience and vision of the sport together with Canadian figure skating Olympic champion Patrick Chan and French ice dancer Nathalie Pechalat.
"Stay in good mood, cherish what you have, and keep studying," Zhang said. "If you feel you can't find your way, it's because you haven't worked hard enough."
After becoming an IOC member in 2018, Zhang started taking on more responsibilities. The 31-year-old described her job as "very busy and needing a lot of learning".
Speaking of the 2022 Beijing Games, the member of the Chinese Olympic Committee executive board said: "We will surprise the world in two years."
Charlton suffers relegation in Premiership
Du Li shoots down a gold in ISSF World Cup
Australia outmuscle China 2-0 at friendly
Rooney strikes as Man United go six points clear
Yao, Tracy named All-NBA 2nd Team
退休播音员被邀请奥运播音Retired sportscaster invited for Olympics
Suns PSV retain the Dutch soccer league title
莎拉波娃因伤退出意大利公开赛
科比以50分把湖人队带进决赛
易建联准备开始NBA之旅Yi ready to live American Dream
Nets edge Raptors, advance to 2nd round
HK shuttler wins first match at Singapore Open
不再有贝克汉姆,但皇马却赢了 No Beckham again, but Real Madrid wins
Shanghai to host 2011 swimming worlds
阿里那斯膝伤将缺阵2-3个月 Arenas out 2-3 months with knee injury
Compulsory nationwide sports hour for students
Yao no longer NBAs big man in China as Kobe rules
教练:陈宏的回归对中国是个坏消息
鲁尼再次看到曼联进入决赛
Meet China prospect Yi at NBA
全国伤残运动会在昆明开幕
利物浦,AC米兰晋级半决赛
Rematches, returns on tap in NBA playoffs
Iverson, Carmelo power Nuggets by Spurs
Sailing: China team stun BMW Oracle
Roy unanimous for NBA all-rookie team
Brazilian player booked for kissing ref
Mavs keep cool, tie series with Warriors
Houston beats Utah to take lead in series
Ohio States Oden plans to enter draft