FIRST TIME I know this because I've been writing for as long as I can remember, and for the last two and a half years I've been writing sports news almost every day. But when I came to Berlin to cover the World Games, it was the first time I was writing news in another language and I failed most of the time. But there was someone else in Berlin, like me, who was adding a new experience to her life. A young athlete from the other side of the world: Cheuk In Wei, 15 years old, coming from Hong Kong.
Since the age of 7, Wei has been practising rhythmic gymnastics. And this is her first Special Olympics World Games. But Wei has done much better than me. Even though it was her first time, she put an incredibly perfect performance and won the gold medal in the all-around category – the hardest medal to win.
PART OF HISTORY She also officially became the first gold medalist at this sports festival in Berlin. She is a part of history now. On the second day, she won four more medals, bringing her count to five. I then approached her asking a simple question.
- After winning so many medals in your first World Games, what is your next goal?”
She looked back at me and responded with no hesitation: “These games are over. Now I want to participate in the next one.”
NEVER GIVE UP The medal ceremony did not even start but Cheuk In Wei set already her sights on the next games, four years from now. At the end of our brief conversation, she said something that sounds like a message to the world but ended up affecting me in a way I could not anticipate. “Never give up until the chance come up”.
I thought of myself considering giving up. But a 15 years old girl from Hong Kong just taught me a lesson of perseverance I will never forget.
