Alpine ace inspired to aim higher after Beijing double

China's Liu Sitong bags two bronze medals at Games

Liu Sitong won her second bronze medal of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games on Monday with a third-place finish in the women's super combined sitting event at the National Alpine Skiing Centre on Monday.

Liu placed second in the super-G race and third in the slalom to rank third overall. She says simply taking part in the Games is thrilling enough and her medals are a bonus.

"Everyone wants to reach the highest podium, however for me, enjoying the event is more important," Liu, 27, told Xinhua.

Liu lost her right leg in a traffic accident in 1998. "I couldn't play with the other kids anymore, but my parents treated me as if I had no disability. They gave me the courage to experience everything," she said.

Her athletic career began in 2008 when she joined the Liaoning provincial wheelchair racing team.

In 2011, she won the 45-kilometer race at the China National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and retained the title in 2015.

After her talent was spotted by a winter sports coach, it was suggested she should try skiing.

"What I love most about this sport is the feeling of freedom in the mountains and mastering the speed on the snow. Alpine skiing combines speed and skill perfectly. It is both exciting and elegant," she said.

"I wanted to win more and continued to challenge myself, that's why I decided to join the para Alpine skiing team."

Liu has been gradually closing on the world's elite para skiers by participating in international competitions and training hard.

"My love for Alpine skiing is increasing day by day," she said.

At the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, Liu missed a gate in the slalom to render the run void, but she still chose to finish the course regardless.

"When I kept going people clapped and encouraged me, and ever since then I have been striving to be counted among the elite athletes," said Liu, adding that she has improved a lot over the last four years in preparation for her Beijing 2022 campaign.

In the women's downhill sitting event on Saturday, Liu became emotional after winning a bronze for Team China.

"I have raced in two Paralympic Games. Last time I skied so poorly and I hoped to have a better result this time. It is really a surprise for me to reach the podium because I didn't ski well in training over the last few days," she said on Saturday.

"But my coach and team gave me so much support and I just thought about enjoying the skiing, rather than winning the event."

Liu hailed China's promotion of winters sports as a hugely positive force in society.

"I wish to express my gratitude to my country. Because our country has encouraged over 300 million Chinese people to participate in winter sports activities, more persons with disabilities have a chance to change the course of their lives," she said.

The para Alpine skiing competition resumes on Thursday, and Liu said: "I want to have a good rest and be prepared for the rest of the events. After the Paralympic Winter Games, I will go to Beijing Sport University, and try to be a good student."

Xinhua