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Zhang Hong teaches students at the Winter Olympics Youth Academy in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei province the basics skills of speed skating on April 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
After retiring in 2018, China's first speed skating Olympic champion Zhang Hong embraces her new role as an IOC member and a winter sports advocator.
HARBIN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Sochi Winter Olympics speed skating champion Zhang Hong was awarded the May Fourth Medal, the top honor for young Chinese individuals presented annually before the national Youth Day which falls on May 4.
"This honor inspired me to continue to work hard," said the 32-year-old.
Zhang won the women's 1,000m speed skating gold at Sochi 2014, China's first ever in the event at the Winter Games.
After retiring in 2018, Zhang was appointed as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Executive Committee of the Chinese Olympic Committee.
"The pressure of participating in international sports work is no less than that of being an athlete," she noted, adding that she has been learning English in recent years and is making a lot of progress.
China's Zhang Hong celebrates after the women's 1,000m speed skating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 13, 2014. Zhang won the gold medal in one minute and 14.02 seconds. (Xinhua/Wang Haofei)
As one of the youngest members of the IOC, Zhang Hong needs a lot of study every day. "When I was an athlete, I paid more attention to my strength and performance. Now I have more social responsibilities," the former Winter Olympic champion said.
"The work of the IOC is different from what I had imagined," she said. "I have to fly here and there every year and deal with jet lag."
"Many IOC members are over 50. I see that everyone has devoted their time to the Olympic cause because of their passion and perseverance. This moved me the most," Zhang said.
However, the experience of being an athlete has taught Zhang to face difficulties head on. "If you give me another chance, I would choose to be an athlete again, because it has helped me to work better now," Zhang said.
Bronze medalist Zhang Tianyi (L) of China shakes hands with Sochi Winter Olympic champion Zhang Hong of China during the awarding ceremony of the men's 500m short track speed skating at the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games at Lausanne Skating Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
During the COVID-19 outbreak, she not only carried out online work with her IOC colleagues, but also participated in the preparation of the Beijing Winter Olympics and recorded home fitness tutorial videos.
"Whether it's writing a book about winter sports or teaching at a university, I want to help popularize winter sports in China and promote a healthy life," Zhang said.
Last month, Zhang participated in the online video conference of the Beijing 2022 Sponsored Enterprise Conference. She said she was looking forward to the Beijing Winter Olympics as "the Winter Olympics will give a lot of hope for a lot of people."
