Don't Give Up
I just love watching the Olympics, witnessing the numerous feats
of athleticism, skill, courage, endurance and passion. Athletes
have to hone their bodies as well as their minds and, on the
day, it is often the individual who has greatest control over
their mind that wins. Major championships are always dramatic
and what occurred during the Pairs Figure Skating Programme in
the 2006 Winter Olympics at the Turino Palavela was certainly
that.
The last couple to skate was Xhang and Xhang from China, one of
three pairs of Chinese skaters in this particular contest.
Totomania and Marinin from Russia had produced a sublime
performance and were tipped for gold. For Xhang and Xhang to
succeed in their quest for the major prize their skating would
have to be impeccable as well as encapsulating the difficult
technical elements such as the quad jump where the skater makes
four revolutions mid-air. This is a situation where potential
does not come into the equation - only what you do on the
occasion can be marked and with the new scoring system this was
never more the case.
It wasn't that long ago that the quad jump was executed for the
first time in competition and now, just like what followed when
Roger Bannister broke the 4min mile barrier in 1954, any skater
of merit has a quad jump in their bag of tricks. When we see
skaters gliding seemingly effortlessly over the ice we forget
just how technical, acrobatic and even dangerous much of what
they are doing is.
In pairs skating one of the required elements is a throw jump.
Imagine being tossed into the air, whipping yourself around a
few times with feet and body perfectly aligned and then touching
down for a flawless landing.
For a chance at the gold medal, Xhang and Xhang had to go for
broke. The opening moments of their routine included a throw
jump involving a quad Salchow. Xhang performed the quad but
couldn't control the landing. She ended in an awkward box split,
twisting and banging her left knee in the process. If that
sounds painful, imagine how it must have felt! With her legs
splayed and still out of control she crashed into the barriers.
Apart from feeling empathy for the pain Xhang must have felt as
she crash-landed one could not help but also feel sympathy for
this skater so graceful one second and then sprawled on the ice,
like a fledgling learning the rudiments of flight, the next. The
audience gasped and the British commentator Barry Davies said
resignedly:
"...Tough on them because they are going to end with nothing and
she clearly is in considerable pain...What a shame!"
Xhang was in obviously discomfort. If she didn't continue the
programme she and her partner would walk away with nothing yet
if she did skate she risked permanent injury. There was a brief
consultation with their coach but no medical treatment. It felt
as though time stood still as Xhang continued to move gingerly
around the ice watched anxiously by her concerned partner. Then
to everyone's surprise the skaters moved into position to resume
their performance. The usually eloquent Barry Davies was
incredulous:
"Surely not! Surely not! They would have to pick up from where
they left off. Have I got that right? I don't see how they can.
I don't see how they can." His voice trailed off.
Fellow commentator Robin Cousins, obviously flummoxed, was slow
to respond.
"I'm speechless actually because I can't believe that does not
hurt to the point where she can't perform. This is a skater that
has a career ahead of her that could risk further damage by
performing on it [knee]."
But this was the Olympics and you don't walk away from an
Olympic dream. The pair did literally pick up from where they
left off and as their music restarted the audience erupted with
applause for this plucky skater.
The rest of the programme went without any major hitches
including the second of their compulsory throw jumps. Xhang
continued to hide the pain she must have been experiencing. When
the pair finished skating the audience were on their feet. While
Xhang and Xhang awaited their scores she finally received
initial first-aid treatment. The knee was strapped and more of
that ice that had been her downfall minutes ago was applied.
Fortunately, although she was limping around the Olympic village
the following day, Xhang is expected to make a full recovery.
Xhang and Xhang took silver behind the Russian pair, Totomanina
and Marinin, knocking team-mates Shen and Zhao into third place
and knocking team-mates Pang and Tong out of the medals
altogether.
Nothing worthwhile is easy. You've got to aim high. You will
make mistakes but when you fall (as opposed to "fail") get up,
brush yourself off and try again. The bounty is great for those
with the courage and perseverance to see things through to the
end. Also, don't let your emotions get in the way. Despite her
pain Xhang remained composed and focused. She kept her eye
firmly on the prize and she and her partner were duly awarded
the silver medal. And, what's more remarkable about this tale is
that a few weeks ago the pair hadn't even been thinking of being
at the Olympics. Persevere; you are but a moment away from
greatness.