Exclusive with Liu Jiayu: 'Great honor to win first medal for China'

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‍China’s snowboarder Liu Jiayu bagged a silver medal with 89.75 points in the women’s snowboard halfpipe final at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Tuesday. Her teammate Cai Xutong, who also competed at the final, finished fifth with 76.50, failing to claim a title at the event.

CGTN’s Tracey Holmes did an exclusive interview with Liu after her podium finish.

'Great honor'

The silver medal is the first medal for China’s team in PyeongChang and China's first medal in snowboarding in any Winter Olympics.

Liu said it is a great honor to win the first medal for China in PyeongChang Olympics and that she’s so proud of showing Chinese athletes’ ability to win a medal in snowboard halfpipe in Winter Olympics.

Silver medallist Liu Jiayu of China celebrates during the victory ceremony after the women's snowboard halfpipe final event. /VCG Photo

The snowboarder's halfpipe journey began in China in 2003. The PyeongChang Olympics is the third Olympics Liu Jiayu has competed. She finished fourth place in the 2010 Vancouver Games, ninth in the 2014 Sochi Games, and finally won a silver medal in PyeongChang.

“S. Korea is so lucky for me,” Liu said. “I’ve won the first world championships in Korea for China, and now I have an Olympics medal!”

Liu said she would definitely compete in Beijing 2022 if she’s healthy four years later. She is super passionate about snowboard and she wishes to represent China in the Olympic Games.

China's Liu Jiayu is in action during the final. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, Liu hopes the silver medal could inspire the younger generation to join snowboard halfpipe. Winning one medal is not her goal, but to show how fun and how cool this sport is to audiences.

Liu mentioned that snowboard is not only about medals – athletes are friendly to each other, and their relationship is what they want people to know.

'She gave this sport so much'

Before the final competition, Liu’s longtime physiotherapist Eddie Lange gave an emotional speech during the interview with CGTN.

"You know, we got nervous, we got excitement, happiness, tears of joy, all those kind of thing. Just proud of her for everything she has accomplished. She's like a daughter to us. To see her competing today, and hopefully getting a good result today, oh gosh, I can't even say anything after that. I'm pretty speechless I think."

Liu's father was in the crowd quietly waiting to greet his daughter after her final run.

"She gave this sport so much,” said Liu’s father, Liu Baozhu. “She started from the age of 11 and practiced on the concrete ground in the summer, had injuries all over her body. She also underwent three major surgeries during the process. It's really difficult for her to stand here today."