CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Chongqing Sports Bureau held a donation ceremony at Chongqing Winter Sports Center to collect cultural relics and exhibits for the Chongqing Sports Museum.

At the ceremony, Wang Qiang, a cross-country skier from Chongqing, donated his first gold medal won in the 14th National Winter Games, and six precious collections, including his competition uniform for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

The past six years have witnessed the start and the booming development of winter sports in Chongqing.

The Chongqing Social Sports Guidance Centers set up a winter sports department and cooperated with Qiqihar to establish Chongqing’s first men's ice hockey team in 2018, which marked Chongqing’s first step in the development of winter sports, said Shi Qiangzhen, Deputy Director and a party member of Chongqing Sports Bureau.

A winter sports management center was established in Chongqing in 2020.

"We brought in two high-level outstanding athletes, Wang Qiang and Zhang Yan, the following year. The six collections donated by Wang Qiang have witnessed Wang’s hard work and unremitting pursuit in the Chongqing team, as well as the booming development of winter sports in Chongqing,” said Shi Qianzhen. As a leading athlete in China’s cross-country skiing, Wang Qiang had represented China to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics and the Coss-country Skiing World Cup in 2022, creating history again and again. He twice refreshed China's best cross-country skiing results, becoming the first Asian athlete to stand on the podium of the cross-country skiing World Cup. The items donated by Wang Qiang are of great significance, added Shi Qiangzhen.

What are the stories behind his donations? Wang Qiang remembered that when he reached the finish line with his snowboard in the 14th National Winter Games on February 14, his heart rate soared to 183 beats per minute.

The gold medal is of great significance, as it represents a historic breakthrough in the development of Chongqing’s winter sports and greatly boosted the morale of Chongqing’s winter sports team. It is not just the first gold medal in the 14th National Winter Games but Chongqing’s first gold medal won in the National Winter Sports Games.

“This gold medal makes all my efforts worthwhile!” said Wang Qiang. He donated the gold medal in the hope that it would inspire more athletes to keep their resolve, win glory for Chongqing, and write a more brilliant new chapter in the development of Chongqing’s winter sports.

A red competition uniform is also eye-catching at the ceremony. Wang Qiang wore this uniform when he competed in the cross-country skiing event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

At the Beijing Olympics, Wang Qiang participated in a total of four cross-country skiing events. He was the only Chinese athlete to reach the quarterfinals in the individual short-distance competition. Although he was ruled out of the semifinals due to foul play, his fifth place in the qualification was enough to demonstrate his ability. It is the best result he has ever achieved in this event at the Winter Olympics.

"I hope this competition uniform will encourage more people to keep themselves grounded and stay humble. As long as you march ahead with courage, you will be rewarded!” said Wang Qiang. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)