LIVIGNO, Italy, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- China celebrated a unique double at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday as Wang Xindi soared to gold in the men's freestyle skiing aerials - two days after his wife Xu Mengtao had topped the women's podium.
The victory made them a rare married couple to each win individual gold medals at these Games.
"We celebrated her gold, but I was also quick to refocus on my own event," Wang said afterward. "We've battled together for years, but we're also professionals. While I was rejoicing with her, I couldn't forget I still had my own event to compete in."
"During competitions, we mostly follow our separate rhythm. Sometimes she has 'pointers' she wants to share, but also doesn't want to say so much. But in my heart, I also understand what she wants to say," he added.
Wang, 30, delivered when it mattered most. Third to jump in the super final, he landed a near-flawless routine for 132.60 points.
Switzerland's Noe Roth, the final athlete down the inrun, answered with a spectacular effort that earned 131.58. When the score flashed, Wang dropped to his knees in the snow and roared with delight, realizing the title was his.
Competing at his third Olympics, Wang had never finished higher than 14th in previous appearances at Beijing 2022 and PyeongChang 2018.
"I didn't dare to dream about winning this gold. The Olympics aren't like the World Cups. Whether it's preparation, or degree of difficulty, it's so much higher," Wang said. "I want to thank myself for not giving up. When things were hard, when I was down, I'd like to give that myself a big hug."
The medal round unfolded as a duel between China and Switzerland, with four Chinese and two Swiss skiers advancing. Roth denied a Chinese podium sweep by taking silver. Fellow Chinese Li Tianma, making his Olympic debut, secured bronze with 123.93 points.
"My performance in the super final was not my best. I can still do better, but I will go back to training and continue to work hard. To get into the super final is already an achievement for me," 24-year-old Li said. "When my coach asked me how my first Olympics felt, I said I felt quite happy. To me, it was more important to enjoy the process and accumulate experience."
China's Sun Jiaxu scored 123.42 to finish fourth, while veteran Qi Guangpu, the defending champion and a five-time Olympian, faltered on his final jump and posted 81.00 points, placing sixth.
35-year-old Qi said after the competition that he will not target a sixth Olympic outing.
"Qi has been our role model all these years. Guys like him and Xu Mengtao are just irreplaceable to our sport. Their contribution to the progress of the sport is something we can all see. It's not possible for us to completely emulate the greats of our sport," Wang said.
"We can only try to follow the path that they've paved for us, and try to take it further. I hope he doesn't retire - let's continue to work hard together," he added.
