◎Beautiful Battle of Taiwan◎
Ji Tiantian was not paying attention and the packaging bag was torn open with a "swish" sound, which was extremely loud.
The coach and the other three teammates all turned their heads and looked at her. Ji Tiantian couldn't help but curl her lips and gave them a harmless smile.
She thought she would be scolded, but the coach just glanced at her twice and then turned his eyes back to the performance display screen.
There were still four pairs in the last group who did not complete the free dance competition.
Ji Tiantian was struggling with the packaging bag just now, so she didn't pay attention to the cheers from the audience or the ranking.
She looked at the results display screen with everyone else. She and Tang Yi were still ranked first.
Now Ji Tiantian doesn't need to look at the score sheet, she can estimate her own and other players' scores based on the total technical scores.
The free dance included two sets of steps. She and Tang Yi performed well this time and should have both received level 3, while the other technical movements were all level 4, which is why they had such high free dance technical scores.
Synchronized twists, combined rotations, and lifts all at level 4, plus level 3 connecting steps, are basically the top technical configuration for the youth group.
The technical score has gone up, so the P score won't be too low. This time the judges may have felt what they wanted to express from their performance, so they gave it a slightly higher score.
Most of the young skaters cannot get the level 3 step sequence. Either their footwork is not smooth enough, or their skating track does not cover the ice surface enough. This is related to the skater's age and competition experience.
In addition, if there are slight mistakes in other twists, lifts, etc., they will be downgraded and the technical score will not be high.
Just finished the competition is a pair of American contestants who ranked fifth in the short dance.
Their total free dance technical score was 38.45, which was more than three points less than Ji Tang's group's score of 41.91. It seemed that their step sequence was not above level 3.
However, the American duo scored 40.14 points for program content, higher than Ji Tang.
Before fighting with the packaging bag, Ji Tiantian watched the beginning of the American group's free dance and didn't think their program content was good enough to get 40 points. But even with the program content points saved, their total free dance score plus the short dance total score still ranked behind Ji Tang.
Regardless of the controversial P score, Ji Tiantian felt that at least her and Tang Yi's technical moves were recognized by the referee. This was good enough.
Ji Tiantian felt happy. She had never been so happy before when she surpassed her long-time rival in the class exam.
Ji Tiantian happily put a piece of konjac into her mouth, then she thought of something and looked at her coach again.
The two coaches were talking heatedly and neither of them paid attention to her.
"You got fifth place this time, Old Xu! I didn't expect that! You have to give a red envelope to Coach Ma in Nancheng when you go back! It's all thanks to her that you met Tiantian!"
"Yes, yes. They will give out red envelopes. Oh, this trip back will definitely be glorious. I wonder what kind of reward the leaders will give to the two children."
"The coaches are so excited." Men's singles player Ning Huai couldn't help but speak out.
"That's totally understandable. For a long time, the ice dance event has been dominated by North American and European players, and Asian players rarely get high scores. It is an event that is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and it also focuses on the content score of the program. The first-tier players, even if they make mistakes in their technical movements, can still rely on their past qualifications to gain a firm foothold in the first tier with high program content scores, and are not easily beaten down by the players behind them." Double partner Yu Sha said to Ning Huai, "Now that Tiantian and Tang Yi have made it, it will be easier for our country's players in the future."
"Tiantian and Tang Yi are really amazing, haha." The male partner Gao Zhe couldn't help but laugh and said, "Fortunately, the judges also saw their efforts. I thought they would be particularly harsh on Asian contestants because of their past impressions."
"It's really harsh, didn't you see that the second-to-last group scored over 40 points for the content of their program, but our group didn't." Ye Yidong said angrily, "If it weren't for our strong ice dance skills, we would have been surpassed."
"Yes, yes," Ning Huai supported Ye Yidong's words as always, "You are all very good."
Ji Tiantian chewed konjac shreds silently, listening to her coach and teammates talking lively in her ear, and couldn't help but smile.
She calmed herself down and looked at Tang Yi beside her, and saw the same smile flashing in his dark eyes. Firm and calm.
What is more difficult than winning a medal is paving the way to conquer Taiwan. Once this road is paved, it will be much easier for Asian players and Chinese players to rise.
Now, they have paved this road with their hard work. The most difficult step has been taken.
It will definitely get better and better.
Ji Tiantian cheered up and continued watching the game.
Next up was the Spanish childhood sweethearts Anna and Leilo, who came in third in the short dance.
The last group of the free dance are basically strong contenders for medals, and the fans' emotions became more and more excited as time went on.
As the Spanish group skated to the center of the ice, cheers from the audience rose.
Anna was wearing a red dress, which was particularly elegant, while Lei Luo was wearing a black dress. Anna bent one leg and put one hand on Lei Luo's shoulder, ready to wait for their music to start.
Anna and Lei Luo are childhood sweethearts, and they understand each other better than other dance partners. But they also have a disadvantage, that is, they cannot perform a strong relationship. The free dance they perform looks and feels the same no matter what the music is. In this competition, they also have their own difficulties to overcome.
The intense bullfighting music sounded. Anna lifted her bright red skirt and smiled warmly at Lei Luo.
Ji Tiantian was a little shocked. Unlike the melancholy and confused look in the hall, the Spanish group dancing to the music of bullfighting looked full of enthusiasm.
Anna, wearing a red cape symbolizing bullfighting, held Leilo's shoulders with one hand and flew around in the arms of the elegant bullfighter. At this moment, they seemed to have merged into one, indistinguishable from each other.
The counterclockwise rotation lift and the small lift that followed instantly ignited the audience. The audience gave enthusiastic applause, and this applause also ignited the two people on the ice. They smoothly completed the subsequent twist and joint lift, with passionate and tacit movements.
Without emphasizing the push-pull relationship between men and women, they brought their passion and tacit understanding to the extreme and completed their free dance perfectly.
Amid the audience's warm applause, the Spanish group calmly bowed out and came to the equalizing area.
Anna and Lei Luo's free dance results came out soon. The technical score was 39.06, and the program content score was 42.31. The total score of the free dance was 81.37. With the short dance score of 54.21, the total score was 135.58. Ji Tang, who had a total score of 133.98, temporarily ranked first.
From the technical points we can see that their connecting steps are not as good as Ji Tang's.
"As time goes by, the referees become more lenient in giving P points." Gao Zhe couldn't help but sigh.
"But this program is pretty good." Ning Huai said, "It's better than the previous groups that got over 40 points, and the technical moves were also well done. There was tacit understanding and enthusiasm, and the emotions expressed were pure and warm. I accept this score."
“I agree.” Ji Tiantian nodded.
Next came the short dance number four from Italy.
Perhaps the Spanish team put too much pressure on them. They made mistakes in their twists and combined spins, and did not perform enough turns, not reaching level 4. Other technical moves were also average. In the end, the free dance technical score was 36.72, the program content score was 40.24, and the free dance total score was 76.94. Including the short dance score, the total score was just over 130, not higher than Ji Tang.
The audience was cheering, but the Chinese team was calm.
The coaches silently looked at the overall ranking on the display screen with detached expressions, but they felt like they were on a roller coaster inside.
Before we knew it, there was one less group ahead of Ji Tang.
There are still two strongest groups, the Big Goose and the Great Britain, that have not been compared, and Ji Tang is currently ranked second, second only to the Spanish group. In other words, Ji Tang is sure to take fourth place this time.
It's a dream.
Xu Chi and Jiang Lin stared at the results display in a daze, still unable to accept the fact. Before coming here, their goal was to successfully complete the free dance, preferably to enter the top 15, so that they would not have to compete in the preliminaries next year.
But the reality has far exceeded their imagination.
"So annoying!" In the silence, the irritable girl, Ye Yidong, spoke up, "Are we the only ones at the front whose P score is less than 40?"
"Why don't you go and argue with the referee!" Ye Yiddong had just stood up when Ning Huai pulled him back to sit.
"You know, there is still room for improvement in the technical score, but the P score..." Ning Huai smiled and comforted Ye Yidong, "Look at it in a positive way. This is called room for improvement."
Ye Yidun frowned and said nothing, silently angry.
"Now you are fourth, congratulations!" Ning Huai turned and smiled at Ji Tang.
Ji Tiantian didn't respond, nor did she eat the konjac noodles in her hand. She looked at the ice calmly, waiting for the next contestant.
The next two to appear were Lillian and Michael from the UK, who had previously won the second place in the short dance.
In response to the enthusiastic cheers from the audience, they opened their arms and smiled.
Compared with the other three events, ice dancers have more freedom in their appearance. In addition to being able to have longer skirts, more beautiful makeup, and a variety of hair styles, ice dancers can have more freedom in their appearance.
Michael was not much different from the other male contestants, wearing black pants with a gray top, while Lillian wore a black suspender skirt with her blonde hair loosely draped over her shoulders, full of youthfulness and elegance in simplicity.
"Here it comes! The ultimate showdown, the number one youth group of Great Britain and the number one youth group of Big Goose!" In the audience, the international student ice fans spoke to Ni Chuan excitedly.
"Our group's competition is over, why are you still so excited?" Ni Chuan yawned. His main purpose for coming here was to see Tang Yi and his country's players. He was not very interested in anything else.
"You don't understand this." The international student ice fan held his chin with both hands and looked at the ice with longing, "I can automatically bring out the way Tiantang grew up in them."
"That's right." Ni Chuan touched his chin thoughtfully, then perked up and looked at the ice surface.
The soundtrack chosen by the British group this time is "E HERE" from the movie "Before Dawn".
Lillian and Michael deliberately wore the same clothes as the male and female protagonists in the movie. The two of them skated hand in hand on the ice, just like strolling on the streets of Vienna in the movie. A gentle atmosphere lingered between them.
Lillian stretched out in Michael's arms, her blond hair flying in the wind. They stared at each other, their eyes seemed to speak.
From time to time, there were shouts of admiration from the audience. Ni Chuan turned to look at the international student ice fan and found that she was holding her face and couldn't help but sigh with admiration.
The male and female partners on the ice finished their lifts and began their twists.
Perhaps not wanting to be at a disadvantage in the medal race, Lillian increased her skating speed, but Michael did not keep up. In the first set of twists with the knife lifted in one hand, Michael waited until Lillian had turned half a circle before officially lifting the knife, and their rotations were not very coordinated.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi glanced at each other at the same time. The synchronized twist step emphasizes synchronization. Although they finally completed the number of circles required for level 4 and secured the basic score, the synchronization rate would most likely result in a reduction in execution points.
Perhaps affected by the twist, the two did not perform well in the next set of steps, and made many mistakes in using the blade. However, their skating speed did not decrease, and their style was very stable, continuing the romantic atmosphere until the end of the program.
There was a roar from the audience, and many British fans who had come from afar to show their support threw their dolls onto the ice.
After paying their respects, the British team came to the waiting area.
"Actually, apart from the mistakes, the completion rate is still pretty good." Xu Chi stared at the results display screen, "I think the P score is not low."
Soon, the results of the British team came out. The free dance technique score was 36.41, the program content score was 41.35, and the total score of the free dance was 77.76. Together with the short dance score of 55.84, the total score was 133.60.
Only by a small margin, they lagged behind the Ji Tang group with a total score of 133.98.
For a moment, Ji Tiantian and no one around her spoke.
Lillian came out of the equal area and subconsciously looked in the direction of the Chinese group.
Ji Tiantian couldn't help but look at Lillian.
At this time, Ji Tiantian was actually a little dazed.
The situation on the field was changing rapidly, and she didn't even have time to eat a few bites of her konjac noodles.
Lillian looked at Ji Tiantian and slowly frowned. She looked at this elementary school student from China, no longer arrogant and disdainful.
Anger burned in her eyes.
Her eyes seemed to say - from now on, we are strong rivals.
From now on, I will take you seriously.
Lillian didn't stay any longer. She shook her blonde hair and turned away from Michael.
The current ranking was clearly displayed on the display screen. Ji Tang was currently ranked second, just behind the Spanish group.
There is only one pair of Big Goose players left to compete.
The Chinese team stared at the screen in silence. They either didn't know what was going on or just couldn't believe it.
"Wow!" Ji Tiantian heard thunderous cheers from the audience, probably... Ni Chuan's voice.
She came to her senses and her heart began to beat wildly.
"This British duo is really something. They can't even save their high P score." Ye Yiddong's cold voice came to my ears, but there was a hint of joy in that voice.
"Tiantian and Tang Yi are really amazing." Gao Zhe spoke to Yu Sha in a low voice.
"Looking at it this way, their free dance left a deep impression on the judges... their technical scores were always the highest. No matter how you add up the P scores of others, their total score can never exceed theirs."
Ji Tiantian subconsciously pressed her chest, feeling that if she didn't do so, her heart would jump out of her chest.
"Don't talk for now, just continue watching the game." Xu Chi's voice rang in his ears.
Ji Tiantian nodded, forced herself to calm down, and looked at the ice surface intently.
She came here not only to show off, but also to learn. She couldn't miss the masters' posture, so that she could go further.
The last to appear were the hot couple of Big Goose, Katerin and Ilyich.
When they came on stage, the audience immediately boiled over, and the applause and cheers exploded, making Ji Tiantian's eardrums hurt.
The pair of the first youth group in the big goose group have been training in the youth group for some time. Their youthful and energetic bodies have already developed adult curves and look particularly beautiful.
Their outfits were similar to the Spanish group, with Katerin wearing a bright red sequined dress and her male companion Ilyich wearing black.
The two approached and got ready. Although the music was not playing, the atmosphere between the two had already spread. Katerin looked at Ilyich, with a strong emotion burning in her eyes.
Soon the music started, it was Bizet's Carmen Suite. Following the magnificent symphony, the two began to race on the ice. Katerin's fiery red skirt fluttered on the ice.
"I want to wear a red dress, too." Ji Tiantian pinched the konjac shreds and couldn't help but speak. It was like a fire in the ice and snow.
"Then tell Clara to choreograph a dance that can be performed in a red skirt." Tang Yi paused, "There should be many dances that meet your requirements."
"Ah, I'm just thinking about it." Ji Tiantian shook her head gently and looked at the ice surface intently again.
Katerin and Ilyich used the soundtrack of Carmen, which also expressed the plot of Carmen - the love-hate entanglement between a wild woman and her man.
Katerin skated backwards, raised her floating leg high in front of Ilyich, and stepped lightly on his shoulder with her skates. She arched her bright red lips to the man who surrendered to her, revealing a queen-like smile.
"Wow!" The international students and other ice hockey fans in the audience exclaimed in amazement.
Katerin, who was concentrating on the performance, wanted to kick Ilyich away, but Ilyich did not give her the chance. He approached firmly and powerfully, holding her legs on his shoulders with one hand and holding Katerin with the other hand, and the two began to spin on the ice without distinction.
The red skirt is like a burning torch, burning on the ice. This is a twist and lift with excellent skills and creativity.
"Ahhhhhh!" The audience was still boiling.
"It's so beautiful." Ji Tiantian looked at the ice and couldn't help feeling longing.
Perhaps in the near future, she will be able to bring such excitement to the audience.
But... this requires close cooperation with the dance partner. Ji Tiantian couldn't help but secretly glance at Tang Yi's handsome profile.
The future... I don't know what it will be like.
The two danced and entangled on the ice. After completing a set of twisting steps, they began to enter a joint rotation. Katerin still looked like she wanted to get rid of Ilyich and tried her best to skate forward, but Ilyich did not give her a chance and hugged her waist from behind. The two completed a jump and entered a joint rotation of you in me and me in you.
"Before the spin, there is a series of difficult steps, and the speed is not low, which is conducive to grading and improves the execution score." In the audience, the ice fan lady said to Ni Chuan with admiration, "He is worthy of being the number one in the young group of the big goose, and the whole thing is smooth."
Following the magnificent notes, the two ended a passionate free dance.
Katerin was obviously very satisfied with today's performance and kept blowing kisses and waving to the audience.
Handfuls of dolls landed on the ice.
Katerina smiled and looked at her male companion Ilyich. Ilyich seemed to have received some instructions and lowered his head to kiss Katerina on the forehead.
"Ahhh!" The ice fans were very excited, and a lot of dolls landed on the ice again.
"Katerin! Ilyich!" The ice fans shouted their names loudly, as if they wanted to lock the two of them on the ice immediately.
Ji Tiantian watched silently from the side, thinking that she should not take this group of contestants as her goal.
There are things she can't do.
"Coach! Coach, I need paper!" Ji Tiantian was still in shock when she heard Gao Zhe's urgent call.
Ji Tiantian turned her head and saw Ning Huai tilting his head back with blood slowly flowing from one of his nostrils.
"I... I'm just a little tired." Ning Huai spoke at a loss.
"Isn't this your first time participating in the World Youth Championship?" Jiang Lin was speechless. She held down the boy's head and wiped his nosebleed with a tissue. "Hold your nose and don't move."
"This is the first time I've seen ice dancing like this." Ning Huai huddled in Jiang Lin's arms and whispered, "I didn't expect ice dancing to be so... so exciting."
"Brother Yi, why don't you have any reaction?" Ning Huai turned to look at Tang Yi, then looked at Gao Zhe who had a calm face, and said with a sigh, "You all are very knowledgeable."
"You are too restless." Gao Zhe said with a smile.
"Shameful." Ye Yidun added.
"You're still not my teammates!"
Amid the noise, Ji Tiantian looked up at the results display screen.
The free dance scores of the Goose Group came out soon, with a technical score of 42.03, a program content score of 42.71, and a total free dance score of 84.74. Together with the short dance score of 61.27, the total score was 146.01.
Whether in terms of technique or performance, their performance is close to perfection. Tiantian is convinced by this first season.
"Katerin! Ilic!" In the audience, enthusiastic ice fans are still calling out to the players of the Big Goose Group.
The last group of contestants finished their competition, which also meant that the ice dance free dance competition was officially over.
Then, the final ranking is shown on the display.
The international student ice hockey fans, Ni Chuan, Ji Tang, the Chinese team players, and all the players looked up.
2011 World Youth Championship overall ranking:
First place: Katerin Ilyich of Russia 146.01
Second place: Ana Relo of Spain 135.58
3rd place: Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi, China 133.98
The players on the ice and everyone in the audience slowly stood up, including Ning Huai who was pinching his nose.
In fact, after the Great Britain group competition ended, many people had already anticipated the final ranking.
But at this moment, when the final results were shown on the screen, everyone still felt unprecedented shock.
The young Asian duo from China broke through the siege and advanced to third place.
They use their strength to tell the world that they are a new force that should not be underestimated.
Although the competition was held in South Korea, there were not many Asians participating in the ice dance event. So the free dance competition was still the same as the short dance before, and there were few Asians in the audience.
"That third place... they are really amazing. Asia can actually produce such a pair of players."
"They won by a narrow margin over Lillian and the others, but they were really strong."
"With such achievements at such a young age, his future is probably immeasurable."
"Even in Goose, there aren't many skaters who are so talented in dancing at such a young age, right?"
…
There was a lively discussion in the audience.
"Third place, I never expected it." Ni Chuan looked at the results display screen and couldn't help but smile and touch the corners of his wet eyes, "Brother Yi and Sister Tiantian are really amazing."
He calmed himself down and looked at the foreign student ice hockey fans behind him: "Should we have hot pot to celebrate later..."
He didn't say anything more because the international student ice fans were already crying and gasping for breath.
"Ahhhh..." She was alone in the audience filled with foreigners, crying at the top of her lungs.
She couldn't utter a word.
All the respect and expectations for the players turned into hot tears that kept rolling down.
The contestants from the motherland succeeded.
In this world where it is easier to defend a Taiwan than to attack it, they successfully fought a beautiful battle to attack Taiwan.
From now on, Asian athletes in ice dance will no longer be unknown.
They will be world famous.
Ji Tiantian was hugging her teammates warmly at this time.
Although it was called a hug, in reality, she was constantly held in everyone's arms.
Like her coaches, she was still a little dazed and felt that everything happening before her eyes was unreal.
Did she get third place?
Third... is there a medal?
"The ice dance free dance competition has ended. The top three ice dance contestants please prepare to go to the podium for the award ceremony." A soft female voice sounded over the radio.
Then the broadcast began to play the names of the winners, "First place, Katerin, Ilich, second place, Anna, Lei Luo, third place, Ji Tiantian, Tang Yi."
Oh, yes, that's my name.
When Ji Tiantian heard her name on the radio, her scalp went numb.
It’s true, she is going to receive the award.
She and her dance partner won the bronze medal in the World Youth Championship.
Her chest rose and fell violently. Her eyes began to blur and tears fell in strings.
The live camera scanned the award-winning contestants one by one.
Ji Tiantian hurriedly hid behind Tang Yi and pleaded in a low voice: "Tang Yi, help me block it..."
She didn't want to be photographed crying.
Tang Yi immediately stood in front of Ji Tiantian and looked down at the girl who was crying uncontrollably.
If she was just a naive child, Ji Tiantian probably wouldn't cry like this.
But she is not.
She knows how far away her ideal is, how luxurious glory is, and has tasted the frustration of working hard but receiving no reward.
She had lived a long life and knew the weight of such a medal.
Tears fell like a dam breaking.
Tang Yi took off his coat and quickly covered Ji Tiantian's head with it.
"No one can see you now." Tang Yi lowered his head and spoke softly to Ji Tiantian.
“Yeah.” Ji Tiantian nodded, and burst into tears under the protection of her coat and her dance partner.
-over-
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