In a recent announcement, seven young athletes, including Su Yiming and Wang Xindi, were awarded the China Youth May Fourth Medal, while five others, led by Ning Zhongyan, received the National May Day Labor Medal. These honorees distinguished themselves at the 25th Winter Olympics and the 14th Winter Paralympics, where their relentless drive helped China achieve its best-ever results in overseas Winter Olympic participation. Su Yiming’s post-competition remark—”I want the national anthem to play in front of the whole world”—still resonates powerfully.
Equally commendable are Ning Zhongyan and his four fellow recipients of the National May Day Labor Medal. Ning claimed gold in the men’s 1,500-meter speed skating event, shattering the Olympic record and ending a century-long dominance by European and American athletes in the discipline. His words, “The halfway point is always the most crowded—you have to reach the summit to see the view,” reflect a spirit of relentless self-improvement and boundary-pushing that deeply moves us.
It is precisely this ambition—”to make the national anthem play”—and this resolve—”to see the summit”—that give struggle its weight. Providing athletes with a focused training environment, allowing them to compete unburdened and aim for the peak, is not only about glory on the field. It is also about setting an example that inspires everyone to challenge themselves and strive unceasingly.
The arena reveals true merit, and struggle is what moves us most. Let us fix our eyes on the field and offer our applause to the fight—this is the greatest tribute we can pay to the athletes.
