FUZHOU, May 2 -- Like many other Chinese born in the 1960s, a figure skater surnamed Bao has the popular given name of Zhenhua, literally meaning to revitalize China.

She was lucky enough to witness the historic moment of China's debut at the Winter Olympics 38 years ago, and what's more, the 14-year-old girl was a part of that history.

WINTER OLYMPICS DEBUT

The Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) sent a delegation in February 1980 to participate the 13th Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, the United States, a few months after the COC was restored as the lawful chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

This was a huge step for Chinese winter sports athletes, and Bao was among the delegation. She was not regarded as the best on singles' performance, but the youngest girl, with the shining smile, seemed to be the most appropriate one to represent the rejuvenating nation after China launched its national reform and opening up strategy in 1978.

Bao had never competed in any international games before the 1980 Olympics.

"Everything came in a sudden," recalled Bao, "jumping to the Olympics sounded so sweet to me. I don't know how to describe my feelings, nervous, excited, curious, and overcautious, it's so complicated."

Bao joked that she almost forgot her moves after she saw the foreign skaters' training.

"My mind was blown out. They were so good and I never saw those moves before," said Bao, "the disco music was very popular around the world in 1980s. I was stirred to see the foreign athletes dance to the rhyme."

【体坛英语资讯：Feature: A life on ice: The story of Chinese figure skating pioneer Bao Zhenhua】相关文章：

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