An excerpt from International Figure Skating online January 20xx Feature Article on Cao Bin:
A Grand Resolution for China’s Modest Long-time Skater
“I’m not the kind of top skater that all the newspapers gravitate toward.”
Yes, I have a large enough fan base, as any high-level skater has, but I’m no Nikiforov, or Giacometti. I’m not the kind of young-blood skater like Leroy or Otabek that has the media raving ‘the next generation looks promising!’ I’m one of those skaters who has been in the field long enough to make some name for myself, but not great enough to make a lasting impression in the minds of the masses. I won’t be a Mao Asada or a Michele Kwan. I won’t be a Rippon with a move named after me, or a Plushenko with an illustrious career. But that’s OK. I skate for my nation, doing the best I can while this body holds up - skating to show my own interpretations and skating because I love it.
I admire Nikiforov for being older than me and still at the top of such a cut-throat sport. I can’t say outright ‘my body is too tired for this’ when I see someone of his age and experience able to give such difficult programs. But the truth is, my body IS too tired. I’ve been at this for years, and I know I’ve hit my peak a couple of years ago. I haven’t been able to stand on the podium here at the GPF for a few years now, and I haven’t been able to grasp onto the second quad needed to keep up with the field of the future. I suppose it must be getting lonely for Nikiforov up there now - with all of us dropping out over the years. I’ll have to remember to give him a goodbye hug for old-times’ sake at the Worlds banquet.
Overall, I’m satisfied with my fourth place finish. After the rough years I had, getting to the GPF and making 4th place above younger competitors feels good. Although, I do feel a small twinge in my heart when I think that I likely wouldn’t have had this placement if it wasn’t for Katsuki self-destructing. It feels a little like having the door opened - winning through someone else’s misfortune instead of beating them through skill alone. But then, it’s a cruel field, and mental strength and luck are also factors that determine placement. Who gets on the podium, and who gets the potato medal; who gets into the GPF and who has to wait another year to try again. I’ve learned this lesson many times after being assigned to events with particularly strong skaters and having poorly-timed injuries. I’m sure as a fellow skater Katsuki understands this too.
There is this amazing Junior who will become the young Ace of China next year. I believe he can make our country proud, and I am confident he will grow in the next few years to be a fearsome competitor - if the gods see fit to spare him of major injury. Although I feel a little bad to be passing the mantle of China’s hope to little Guang-Hong, I want to leave him with a fresh slate and not take up spots in future Worlds and Four Continents competitions that could be better used to help him grow. As his senior I’ll be sure to come to his rink and offer advice from time to time.
I did well. Just a few more competitions to go - I’ll enjoy them to the best of my ability. And then, after this season is over, I’ll retire to become a Professional Skater and skate in ice shows where I can do my own programs without worrying about a certain number of jumps or having certain spin positions to rack up points. I’ll be able to make the show choreographer’s stories come to life, and perform for the public who can’t afford to go watch the Competitive Figure Skating that I’ve been a part of for so long.
“Who knows what my future holds further down the line, but for now it looks dazzling.” -Cao Bin
(For the record:
-there is actually a magazine called “International Figure Skating” in real life, and they do indeed have feature articles online
-this is my completely made-up article and not canon/a translation in any way
-Competitive Figure Skaters and Professional Figure Skaters are COMPLETELY different things - thus Cao Bin here is making a career choice and not being redundant.)
@hikarinonakade in case you want to read this
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