Chapter 63 2013 World Youth Championship and the New Season
◎ She finally stood on the highest podium of the World Youth Championship◎
Shortly after the New Year's Day, Ji Tiantian successfully completed the final exam and ranked sixth in the class. For her who had been busy with competitions and practice throughout the semester, this result was already very good.
Then, it was the Chinese New Year. This time, Zhang Lilian planned to take Ji Tiantian back to South City to celebrate the New Year, and visit Ji Ze who had always lived in South City, as well as familiar neighbors and friends.
They set off before the New Year, and Liu Hui and Tang Yi came to the airport to see them off.
During this year, Liu Hui would go to Zhang Lilian and her colleagues' interest classes to learn dance whenever she had time, and she also developed a deep relationship with Zhang Lilian.
"Now that you've left, I suddenly feel very uncomfortable." Liu Hui sighed. She still remembered that last year, she and Tang Yi spent the New Year with Ji Tiantian's family.
Those were one of the few happy times in her life.
Liu Hui was not good at expressing her feelings. Even though her eyes were filled with reluctance, she still didn't know how to express it.
"Come back soon." Liu Hui was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Tang Yi, "Tang Yi is reluctant to leave Tiantian."
Tang Yi looked at Liu Hui silently, then at Ji Tiantian, without saying anything.
"I'm just going back to celebrate the New Year. We'll see each other again soon. Take care of yourselves." Zhang Lilian said, looking at Tang Yi.
She took a step closer to Tang Yi, smiling earnestly, "Thank you for always taking care of our Tiantian."
Tang Yi was silent for a moment, then slowly lowered his eyes, his eyes dimmed: "I didn't take good care of her."
"Don't say that!" Zhang Lilian patted Tang Yi's shoulder vigorously. "Tiantian always told me that you are serious and responsible, and never said anything bad about you. Unlike her former dance partner Wang Hao, she complained as soon as she got home."
Tang Yi raised his head slowly. He looked at Ji Tiantian, his eyes gradually brightening.
Ji Tiantian felt her heart skip a beat for no apparent reason. She also noticed Zhang Lilian's look, which seemed to be hinting at her to say something to Tang Yi.
She also felt that she should say something.
Although her wound has healed, the guilt caused by that wound may still linger in Tang Yi's heart.
"Well... Tang Yi, thank you." Ji Tiantian walked up to Tang Yi and pursed her lips. She didn't dare to look him in the eye, so she lowered her head and said, "Actually, I always think... it's great to be able to skate and dance with you. I've been very happy during this period."
"Me too." Tang Yi said in a low voice.
Ji Tiantian subconsciously looked up at Tang Yi.
Although she once resisted becoming his dance partner, now she thought that this was the right choice. He led her and tolerated her, and she returned his kindness.
They had experienced storms, pain, lows and joys together. The days she spent competing with Tang Yi were the most profound days in her two lives.
Now when I think back to the finals, the way they spun in front of multiple cameras seemed like a dream. I hope this dream will continue.
They stared at each other and couldn't help but smile.
"Okay, okay, Tiantian and the others are going to miss the plane." Liu Hui pulled Tang Yi away and looked at Zhang Lilian, "Happy New Year! Have a safe journey."
"Happy New Year!"
Zhang Lilian took Ji Tiantian and walked quickly towards the security checkpoint.
Ji Tiantian had left Nancheng for some time. When she came back again, her heart was filled with nostalgia for her hometown.
She spent a warm New Year's Eve with her mother and father.
During the Chinese New Year, neighbors, familiar and unfamiliar, all knocked on the door, wanting to catch a glimpse of the gold medalist. Some local GG merchants in South City also came to the door to seek cooperation, but Ji Tiantian had no time at the moment, so she could only decline.
During this period, whenever Ji Tiantian went out, she could hear her neighbors talking about her.
"It's incredible! Tiantian is truly a golden phoenix that has flown out of our old neighborhood."
"Yeah, I never thought that our Nancheng, where it's spring all year round, could produce an athlete in ice and snow events! And a gold medalist at that!"
"Hey, sometimes when God tells you to do something, you have to do it. God's arrangements are the most unreasonable!"
"Tiantian works very hard. If she didn't work hard, how could she make such rapid progress?"
"Hey...when will my family have such a promising child?"
Ji Tiantian subconsciously looked up at the clear sky in South City and couldn't help but smile.
Later, Ji Tiantian received an invitation from Coach Ma of the city team. Coach Ma asked her to visit the ice rink dedicated to the city team when she was free.
Once upon a time, Ji Tiantian participated in a training course organized by Coach Ma. For her, that was the place where her dreams took off.
She accepted the invitation of Coach Ma and went to the ice rink, and was surprised by the lively atmosphere on the ice. During the Chinese New Year, the ice rink was still full of people.
"Thanks to you, our South City figure skating team has grown stronger, and there are several outstanding players preparing to participate in the national competition." Coach Ma walked towards Ji Tiantian with a smile, looked her up and down, and couldn't help but sighed, "Tiantian, you have grown taller, and you look like a big girl. How old are you now?"
"After April, I will be sixteen years old." Ji Tiantian smiled.
"You've really grown up. That's good. For ice dancing, it's better to grow up a little bit." Coach Ma nodded, and then suddenly thought of something, "You're going to the Winter Olympics soon, right?"
"Well... I'm not sure yet, but I will try my best." Ji Tiantian said, and took a deep breath.
The next season, that is, the 2013-2014 season, is the Winter Olympics season. Because the Winter Olympics is held every four years, this season is bound to attract much attention.
However, going to the Winter Olympics is not an immediate decision. First, they have to be promoted to a higher group, and second, they have to get a quota.
"It will definitely go well." Coach Ma saw Ji Tiantian's worry and encouraged her, "You have won the youth championship. You can do such a difficult thing. I think there will be no difficulties in this world that can stop you."
"Yeah." Ji Tian nodded and smiled.
“Sweet!”
Just then, a familiar voice came from the door. Ji Tiantian looked in the direction of the voice and saw Chen Yusheng and Wang Hao coming. They also returned to Nancheng from the capital to celebrate the New Year this year.
At this time, not only them, but also her former classmates and everyone from the ballet major of the Affiliated Middle School of South City Dance Academy came.
"Why are you here?" Ji Tiantian looked at the familiar faces and couldn't help but smile brightly, with tears in her eyes.
"When your classmates heard that you were coming here, they all wanted to come, and I didn't stop them." Coach Ma spoke to Ji Tiantian.
"Why...why are you all wearing ice skates?" Ji Tiantian suddenly discovered something.
"Tiantian, we all learned to skate. Because of you, the Municipal Sports Bureau and the Municipal Figure Skating Team have taken special care of our school. Now we have a skating class every week, and learn to skate under the guidance of the city team coach." A classmate smiled proudly at Ji Tiantian, "Originally, such an opportunity would only be given to ballroom dance majors, but because of you, we ballet students can also skate."
"Maybe soon, our school will recruit students who major in ice dancing!"
“You have no idea how far-reaching your influence is!”
"Yes, Ji Tiantian, you are our pride!"
Ji Tiantian quietly looked at her classmates whom she hadn't seen for a long time. For some reason, tears started to flow down her cheeks. She covered her face with her hands.
At this moment, she suddenly felt extremely proud. Unconsciously, she had made the world change a little bit for her.
"Tiantian, no matter where you are, we will always pay attention to you and support you." Chen Yusheng walked over and hugged Ji Tiantian tightly.
"Tiantang is the best! Tiantang is the sweetest!" Someone followed and shouted the slogan in the figure skating forum.
"Hey, hey, don't shout such slogans to my face!" Chen Yusheng scolded.
"Just shout, it's nothing..." Ji Tiantian couldn't help but burst into laughter in Chen Yusheng's arms.
"What's the matter, are you and Tang Yi really together?" Chen Yusheng looked down at Ji Tiantian's face.
"I'm just used to it, and this group name... sounds pretty good." Ji Tiantian still smiled.
Just as she had resisted working with Tang Yi, she had also initially resisted the name of the group.
But, just as she got used to Tang Yi, she gradually found that this name was also nice. Her mentality, like the world, was constantly changing. No one knew where the end of fate would end.
Ji Tiantian and her classmates skated hand in hand on the ice and wished each other a happy new year. Then, her short new year holiday came to an end.
Ji Tiantian returned to the capital and conducted domestic training with Tang Yi before the World Youth Championship.
During this year, Ji Tiantian practiced diligently and strictly controlled her diet. Her body fat did not change much in the year, and it seemed that she had passed the development stage smoothly.
Soon, the World Youth Championship at the end of February arrived. At the designated hotel for the competition, Ji Tang once again met his old rivals, the Goose Katerin team, the Canadian Giants team, and the Spanish Anarelo team.
This time when she met Ji Tiantian in the hotel, Katelin did not run over to touch Ji Tiantian's face enthusiastically. She looked at Ji Tiantian with a hint of respect in her eyes.
"Ceramic doll, I will do my best this time." Katerin spoke to Ji Tiantian with a smile.
"I can do that, too." Ji Tian nodded.
Soon, the ice dance short dance competition began.
During the warm-up, Ji Tiantian was still a little nervous, a little worried that the pattern dance would be wrong.
But when the familiar blues music began to flow on the ice, Ji Tiantian suddenly felt that there was nothing to be afraid of.
She and Tang Yi held hands, maintaining the foxtrot grip with their eyes looking forward, and then leaned back. They slid forward together, lifting their floating legs high, with a relaxed and enjoyable posture.
She couldn't help but smile.
She and Tang Yi have already won the Grand Prix Final gold medal, which is of great importance. They should be the most fearless players in this arena. The gold medal and everyone's expectations gave her a lot of confidence.
In the wind, they held each other tightly and did elegant blues choctaw to the elegant music.
As the two sets of pattern dances ended, their blues music also ended, and the connecting swing dance music soon sounded.
The key points of the pattern dance should be correct this time. Ji Tiantian exhaled slowly in the wind generated by the sliding, and her already sufficient confidence increased by three points.
The next difficult part is the connecting steps arranged in the swing dance part.
Ji Tiantian led Tang Yi to start doing the follow-up steps.
"We can keep up the form of the finals." She looked into Tang Yi's eyes and conveyed this message. He gave her a positive look.
She did a quick split on the ice, then twisted, and she and Tang Yi began to do circular steps to the music without holding hands.
They do not touch, but do consistent turns, swings, foot changes, and sliding steps including the Choctaw, Mohawk, bracket, and all other difficult steps.
Ji Tiantian caught a glimpse of Tang Yi from the corner of her eye. He was like her shadow, inseparable from her.
With him behind her, she was like a soldier with protection at the rear, fighting forward with all her might.
She smiled and moved her steps, gliding from one end of the center line of the ice to the other end, and then gliding back. She changed directions calmly, with an elegant and calm posture. She was already a skilled ice dancer.
Finally, she slid out the connecting step. Ji Tiantian turned around, reached out and held Tang Yi's hands, looking at him with unusually bright eyes.
We can, her eyes said.
Yes, I believe we can. Tang Yi held Ji Tiantian's hand tightly, giving her a boost, and at the same time led her to spin and slide out the connecting steps with him.
At the same time, Ji Tiantian raised her floating leg high towards the referee's seat, which was close at hand. She did a side split and smiled at the referee with great joy.
At this moment, she couldn't explain why, she just felt that they could win. With their skills in place, she and Tang Yi had already cooperated perfectly.
There is no reason not to win.
The audience was excited by Ji Tiantian's intense and cheerful splits, and then they cheered and swayed to the music.
Amid the enthusiasm of the audience, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi successfully completed the following twists and lifts.
The applause continued as they finished their short dance.
Amidst applause, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi came to the waiting area.
Not long after, Ji Tang received their short dance results: technical score was 34.32, program content score was 30.02, and short dance score was 64.35.
There was a cheer from the audience.
“Best of the season!”
"It seems... it's also the best short dance in the youth category ever!"
"Great! Sweetie is stable!"
Ji Tiantian quickly took out their small score sheet for confirmation.
The key points of the two sets of pattern dances in the short dance are all correct, and the grade is 4, the connecting steps are 3, and the synchronized twisting steps and lifting are 4. This set of technical movements is undoubtedly the top configuration of the short dance in the youth group.
The technical moves were performed perfectly and the program content also received high scores due to its rich emotions.
“Tiantang should have gotten level three in the step sequence this time. They became the third youth group to get level three in the short dance after the Big Goose group and Canada.” A Chinese audience member in the audience breathed a sigh of relief, “I was wondering if getting level three in the finals was just luck... Now it seems that I was overthinking, they have managed it, and their scores will not drop in the future!”
There is no falling. They will always be going up.
Amid the cheers, Ji Tiantian smiled. Everything was so gratifying, and nothing was unexpected.
After that, other groups finished the competition one after another, and the short dance rankings were displayed on the display screen. The top four were:
First place: China Ji Tiantian Tang Yi 64.35
Second place: Katerin Ilyich, 63.08
3rd place: Mia Lucas of Canada, 62.78
4th place: Ana Relo of Spain 61.23
Katerin and Ilich performed very stably this time. Their technical movements were graded the same as Ji Tang's. The key points of the pattern dance were correct, the transition steps were graded at level 3, and the rest were graded at the highest level 4. However, their execution scores were not as high as Ji Tang's. Their program content scores were also rarely lower than Ji Tang's.
Mia and Lucas were also rated in this action, but the content of the show dragged them down, and the overall performance was not very impressive.
The Spanish team's other technical moves were all OK, but their step sequences were never able to reach level 3, so their best score was around 61 points.
"Although Katerin and Ilyich's short dance is also very good, it is not as emotionally dynamic as Tiantang's." Someone in the audience discussed.
"Tiantian's acting ability is really strong. I originally thought that her ability was rare only in Asia... but now it seems that it is rare all over the world."
"Yeah, and the dance moves are also on point, the live performance is great..."
"Ji Tang has really stepped up. He got first place in the short dance, so he will definitely do well in the free dance!"
"Ah, watching this Chinese duo gradually find their way and finally get to this point, it's really not easy..."
"Wow, I want to cry again."
The next day was the final free dance competition.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi's program was still Daming Palace Ci. Many people came to watch their free dance, and the auditorium was full of people.
Ji Tang did not disappoint the audience who came from afar to support them. He performed steadily, with full technical moves and emotions.
Finally, Ji Tiantian still knelt on the ice holding Tang Yi. Tang Yi smiled at her, and Ji Tiantian smiled at him with tears in her eyes.
Their smiles were very natural and full of meaning. At the last moment of the free dance, they stared at each other for a long time and wished each other well.
Ji Tiantian raised her head and looked at the audience around her with a smile.
"Wow, is it because she won the gold medal... Tiantian really looks like a radiant Tang Dynasty princess now, so noble and elegant." Someone in the audience exclaimed.
Life experiences enrich Ji Tiantian's performances, and Ji Tiantian's performances derive even richer experiences.
Life and competition are never separated.
Amidst warm applause, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi stood up hand in hand and saluted towards the four directions.
Soon, Ji Tang and others received their free dance scores, with a technical score of 43.88, a program content score of 46.82, and a free dance score of 90.70.
Two sets of step sequences at level 3, one set of five-week synchronized twists at level 4, one combined lift consisting of two short lifts and one single short lift at level 4, and one combined rotation at level 4. This set of free dance grading is also the top configuration of the technical grading of the youth group. No one has surpassed them.
Their consistently excellent technique, coupled with exceptional expressiveness and stunning five-week synchronized twists, enabled them to achieve the same success as in the short dance.
Their free dance score was the best ever for a group free dance, the best free dance of the season, and the best free dance of the youth group ever.
Amid the cheers of the audience, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi hugged each other.
Other groups also completed the free dance competition one after another.
The Spanish team's free dance score was 85.21, and their step sequence was still only level 2.
The Canadian group's free dance score was 87.88, continuing to move up to level 3, but the program content score still lagged behind.
The Goose Group scored 90.12 points in the free dance. They did not challenge the five-week twist this time, and their technical action rating was the same as Ji Tang and the Canadian group, and their program content score was also high. However, Ji Tang won them by a small margin with his technical execution score.
The World Youth Championship is over, and the top four rankings are shown on the display:
First place: China Ji Tiantian Tang Yi 155.05
2nd place Katerin Ilyich of Russia 153.20
3rd place: Mia Lucas of Canada, 150.66
4th place: Ana Relo of Spain 146.44
The Chinese youth group's No. 2 Lin Aili group and No. 3 mixed-race brother and sister group both finished the race successfully this time, winning the 14th and 16th places in the youth group with 114.21 and 108.32 respectively.
"Dear audience, what you are watching now is the award ceremony of the World Youth Championship. Just today, our country's players, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi, won the World Youth Championship."
The reporter at the scene was still talking to the camera with tears in his eyes: "Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi got a high score of 155.05 today! This is the highest score in their career! I need to explain that in the past, ice dancing had to be competed in three events, and it was only after the rules were revised in 2010 that two events were started. The score that Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi got today is also the highest score after the rule revision! The two young players have experienced a lot this season and have indeed grown a lot. This is the first time that they have left their opponents behind in the short dance, and they have completed their own breakthrough! Let us wish them well!"
"This score is a record-breaking one, isn't it?" Xu Chi looked at the score display screen with tears in his eyes. "I never thought that my dream would actually become a reality."
"Tiantian, Tang Yi, you will be the leaders of the youth group in the future. You are the newcomers in ice dance. Thanks to you, we will no longer be the weak in ice dance. Old Xu and I can hold our heads high when we go out in the future." Jiang Lin hugged Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi and couldn't help crying. Just as Xu Chi said, what happened in the dream actually became reality.
"Follow the rules of our ice dance. Once you get up, you won't fall down again." Xu Chi reminded Ji Tang on behalf of Jiang Lin who was crying so hard, "Keep your mentality stable in the future, don't be arrogant or discouraged, and set an example for the younger generation."
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi nodded, then hugged Lin Aili's group and the mixed-race brother and sister group.
Amid cheers, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi slid towards the podium hand in hand.
"I really didn't expect... that they became the youth group champions in the blink of an eye..." Jiang Lin spoke while wiping her tears.
"Yeah... they still look childish, like babies." Xu Chi said with a smile, "But it's not surprising if you think about it carefully. They are talented. Tang Yi skates steadily and Tiantian has a good sense of dance. They took unconventional approaches along the way to improve the content score of the free dance program, and finally achieved a breakthrough in the short dance transition steps. Everyone likes their performance style, and this championship should be theirs."
Jiang Lin and Xu Chi looked up at the same time and looked at Ji Tang on the ice. Tang Yi carried Ji Tiantian to the podium and then stood on it himself.
"Look at how skilled they are when they step onto the podium." Xu Chi couldn't help but laugh. "On the world stage, they are already experienced veterans. But they are still very young."
Jiang Lin nodded and couldn't help crying again. In her tears, she saw the bright future of Chinese ice dance.
After Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi stood on the highest position on the podium, the Russian pair who won the silver medal and the Canadian pair who won the bronze medal slid over one after another.
Katerin looked at Ji Tiantian for a long time, then smiled and hugged her: "I still won't say anything, porcelain doll, congratulations. I am honored to see you get to this position."
"Thank you, Katerina. It's my honor to meet you." Ji Tiantian also hugged Katerina tightly.
When the award ceremony began, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi bowed their heads together and let the chairman judge pin the gold medals on them.
It was difficult for Ji Tiantian to describe her mood at the moment.
She was indeed happy, but not that happy. She had actually expected this result.
Before this day came, they had already made all the necessary preparations.
When all the necessary conditions are met, they will receive the gold medal. The gold medal is never a reward, but a symbol of strength.
Ji Tiantian shook hands and hugged the chair referee with a calm smile.
"Ji Tiantian! Tang Yi!" When she straightened up, she suddenly heard loud cheers from the audience.
"Come on next season! We'll be waiting for you!"
"Go Winter Olympics!"
“Never give up!”
Although she had made preparations, everyone's enthusiastic cheers still brought tears to her eyes.
Before she could calm down, the broadcast began to remind the audience to stand up and prepare for the national anthem.
She had clearly made sufficient preparations and had clearly anticipated today's results, but when she saw the bright red five-star red flag rising and listened to the national anthem playing, Ji Tiantian still couldn't help crying.
Tears fell like rain.
She finally stood on the highest podium of the World Youth Championship.
The medal color change she expected finally came true.
With the Kosten as her battle armor and the ice skates as her sword, she fought through all the obstacles, rumors, and painful lows. But finally, she lit a torch and illuminated the darkness.
What awaits her ahead is a bright future.
Tang Yi gently reached out and held Ji Tiantian's hand, and they watched the national flag rise to the top in silence.
This is the final scene of their 12-13 season.
The process was more difficult than they had imagined, but the ending was better than they had imagined.
The GALA of the Grand Prix was performed again at the World Youth Championship, and then Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi returned from the World Youth Championship amid relaxed laughter.
After winning gold medals in the Grand Prix Finals and the World Youth Championships, they returned to their homeland and became ordinary students again.
Ji Tang shifted the focus of his life to his studies again. Of course, their domestic training did not stop, and they still went to the national team ice rink for training at a fixed time every day.
Just as Jiang Lin said, because of Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi's achievements, all ice dance athletes can finally hold their heads high in the figure skating team.
This is mainly reflected in the fact that they can boldly raise objections in front of the head coach and the leaders of the Sports Bureau and no longer let themselves be led by others.
Even the toughest leaders had to soften their voices when they saw the two world-class gold medals that Ji Tang brought back. Ji Tang used his strength to gain the right to speak for the entire project in China.
A few days later, at the end of March, the World Championships for adults also ended. The only Chinese adult ice dance team, the Smiling Face Team, won 18th place.
This World Championships is related to the qualification for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Ice Dance World Championships will select 19 Winter Olympics places, and 5 places will be placed in the Wudi Cup Qualifying Tournament. There are only 24 pairs of ice dancers eligible to participate in the Winter Olympics.
According to the rules, the 1st-2nd place athletes in this World Championships can earn three Winter Olympics quotas for their country, and the 3rd-10th place can earn two. The next place will earn one quota. And so on, excluding duplicates, it just reaches the 18th place, reaching a total of 19.
The Chinese adult team qualified for the Winter Olympics.
Although it was very thrilling, fortunately I got it, and all the members of the national figure skating team breathed a sigh of relief. Although if I didn't get it, I could still participate in the qualifying competition for the last chance, but it's not a good look to have no place in the World Championships.
After the World Championships, the adult ice dance group, the Ji Tang group, and their respective coaches held a meeting together.
The theme of the meeting, of course, was preparations for a brand new season - the 2013-2014 Winter Olympics season.
Wei Xiao, the female partner in the adult group, came to the meeting room with a cane and accompanied by her male partner Chang Yu.
On the eve of the National Championships, Wei Xiao's knee injury relapsed and has been recurring since then. He also competed in the World Championships with an injury.
One of the most important joints for flexibly manipulating the skates to glide on the ice is the knee. Many ice dancers have to endure chronic wear and tear of their knees.
In the conference room, everyone's eyes were focused on Wei Xiao, and the atmosphere became solemn.
Needless to say, everyone knows how hard it was to get the only ice dance spot at the Winter Olympics.
"This season, Tiantian and Tang Yi will be promoted to the next level." Coach Feng, the head coach of the adult group, couldn't help but smile and talk to liven up the atmosphere.
"Yes." Xu Chi nodded and smiled at Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi.
2013-2014 is the Winter Olympics season. Young figure skaters from many countries will move up to the adult group in this season to prepare for the Winter Olympics. Ji Tang is no exception.
The minimum age to participate in adult competitions such as the Winter Olympics and World Championships is 16 years old, and this year Ji Tiantian will turn 16 before the start of the season, meeting the standard.
As early as last season, they had already prepared for this season's promotion.
"Lin Aili and the others, as well as the mixed-race kids, did quite well in the World Junior Championships this time, and they should be able to improve next year. This season, we will select another group from the National Championships to enter the World Junior Championships to fill the vacancies left by Tiantian and Tang Yi. Then we will have two more adult groups, and a complete ice dance team will be formed." Xu Chi spoke with emotion.
He looked at Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi, his eyes sparkling with pride. The grand era of ice dancing that he had been looking forward to had finally arrived.
"That's great, we will compete together in the future." Wei smiled and said to Ji Tang, "We will compete fairly in the National Championships, and whoever wins will go to the Winter Olympics!" The Winter Olympics qualification obtained in the World Championships is not bound to the athletes, so Ji Tang can compete for this spot with the Smiling Group.
Chang Yu looked gloomy and didn't speak for a while.
Ji Tiantian nodded silently, her face a little solemn. She hoped that Wei Xiao would get better soon, otherwise the qualification competition for the National Championships... I always felt a little uncomfortable.
"The competition in the adult group is much more intense than that in the youth group." Coach Feng's voice called Ji Tiantian's attention back.
She turned to look at Coach Feng. Coach Feng looked at her while smoking and talking: "You will face many opponents who are more than ten years older than you. The interpretation of international rules, understanding of pattern dance and grasp of performance of those mature players are absolutely incomparable to the young players. Not to mention that the top two groups of players already have the strength to get full ratings."
Ji Tiantian couldn't help but take a deep breath. Full rating means getting level 4 for all technical moves, including step sequences.
Level 4 step sequence means more turns, grips, and footwork changes within a limited time. A smoother and wider sliding track, a faster sliding speed, and a dance posture that is more in line with the music. It is extremely difficult to get the full grade in ice dance. At present, there may be only two groups in the world who can get it.
She and Tang Yi had a hard time getting the level 3 transition steps for the short dance.
After they are promoted to adult group, they will face a whole new world, a world that is more turbulent and more vast.
"Don't scare Tiantian." Wei Xiao pushed Coach Feng.
"I'm just giving them a reminder to help them get through the adaptation period after being promoted to a higher group as quickly as possible." Coach Feng said innocently, "Besides, they have already won gold medals, so they won't be scared that easily."
"What is the highest score in ice dancing at this year's World Championships?" Xu Chi asked casually.
Coach Feng took a puff of his cigarette and said, “190.”
Ji Tiantian felt her heartbeat quicken. Although they scored 155 points, setting a record for the youth group.
But there is still a gap of 35 points from the world champion.
But fortunately, the gap has narrowed a lot compared to the initial 60-point gap.
Unconsciously, they have already walked a long way up. In the future, they will definitely, definitely rise higher.
Ji Tiantian slowly clenched her hands into fists under the table. Facing the new adult group season, she was both excited and nervous, and her arms were shaking slightly.
Then she felt a slightly cool touch.
Tang Yi reached out and held her hand. She paused, then held his hand back tightly.
-over-
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