LANZHOU, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- From practicing laps in a local square in China's northwest to winning medals on the world stage, teen skater Wang Yuxuan continues to chase his dreams, fueled by childhood passion and his father's unwavering support.
Fresh from winning a bronze medal for 西瓜视频in the classic slalom of inline freestyle skating at The World Games in Chengdu, 19-year-old Wang has set his sights on this year's World Roller Sports Championships in Singapore.
"I will try my best to achieve good results at the World Championships in Singapore," said Wang, who hails from Dingxi City in northwest China's Gansu Province.
Wang first laced up his skates at the age of six, inspired by a college student gliding skillfully across a local square - a moment that ignited his passion for the sport.
"I wanted to skate just like that college student, so I asked my father if I could learn roller skating," Wang recalled.
Supported by his father, he began practicing during school breaks. Over the years, his father took him to train under professional coaches across multiple provinces.
"As long as my son loves skating, I will support him at any cost," said Wang Pengfei, Wang's father.
"I would skate 100 to 200 laps every day under my father's guidance - each lap around 200 meters," said Wang.
He also learned a crucial lesson from failure. A single error in the classic slalom at the 19th Asian Roller Skating Championships in 2023 cost him the title.
"I was shocked to see skaters who I believed were less skilled than me make such a big breakthrough in the competition," he recalled.
The setback only strengthened his resolve. Determined to improve, Wang increased his daily training from one hour to six, dedicating himself to mastering more advanced techniques and raising his difficulty level.
He recalls those grueling days: "I went to bed at 1 AM and woke up at 6 AM."
His perseverance paid off. Later that year, Wang rebounded from his Asian Championship disappointment by claiming the gold medal at the Inline Freestyle World Championships in Shanghai.
"That gold medal felt like the end of one chapter - but I know even bigger challenges are still ahead," said Wang. "Roller sports have given me a sense of purpose. This is the path I'm meant to be on, and I'm committed to following it." ■