Co-hosted by the School of Political Science & International Relations, the Institute for China & World Studies, and the Graduate School of Tongji University, the Tongji Advanced Lectures for Graduate Students No.83 & the Tongji Serial Lectures on Social Sciences No.35 was successfully held in Auditorium 129 of Siping Campus on April 8, 2021. Ms. Yang Yang, China’s first gold winner of the Winter Olympics, Vice Chair of the All-China Federation of Youth, Vice President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and Chair of the Athletes Committee of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Winter Olympics, was invited to give a keynote speech entitled “Surpass Myself” to teachers and students of Tongji.

Ms. Yang shared with the audience her life experiences and insights from six topics including “beginning of a dream”, “key to success”, “the first gold medalist in China’s Winter Olympics journey”, “comeback from a short break”, “begin again”, and “surpass myself”. She began her dream in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Although she did not perform well in this game, her ardent pursuit of dream caused her to begin again, and she won three gold medals in a short track speed skating world championships a month later. Ms. Yang told the exciting story about winning the first Winter Olympic gold medal for China in Salt Lake City in 2002, and shared the secrets to staying in the best state and achieving excellent results.

Ms. Yang vividly shared her new life after retirement. When her athletic career came to an end, she chose to “begin again” to do what she likes to do, what she is able to do, and what she is expected to do. From doing charity to serving in international organizations and the CPPCC, she is dedicated to her work and continues her excellent performance.

When it came to the internationalization of Tongji University, Ms. Yang shared her story of working at international sports organizations to continue her wonderful life. As she emphasized, when China is growing so rapidly, the most important thing is to let the world feel our good faith and believe in China’s contributions to the world, and we are duly respected by the world.

Ms. Yang concluded that our life has no limits, and all of us should keep learning, listen to the inner voice, enjoy the process of growth, and always believe in the power of love. She encouraged the audience to follow their dreams. “Dream enables us to see the future. We must have a dream and believe in our dream, and then the future is promising,” she said.

In the Q&A session, Ms. Yang answered the audience’s questions such as “how to manage pressure”, “how to present yourself in international sports organizations”, “how to help great athletes successfully start a new life after retirement”, and “how Chinese short track speed skaters will perform at the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics”, winning rounds of applause.

The lecture was moderated by Professor Men Honghua, Dean of the School of Political Science & International Relations and President of the Institute for China & World Studies, Tongji University. Dean Men concluded that Ms. Yang told a story of struggle. Attitude is everything. If you can’t change the referees and opponents, change yourself. She also told a heartwarming story which shows the glory of human nature. Her stories told us that all success is the result of hard work and the crystallization of wisdom. Through the lecture, we were very moved by her open-mindedness. In the face of failure, she was not only peaceful but also grateful, which is a great wisdom. More importantly, in the face of achievement, she can be as passionate as she was an athlete, and she also has her inner peace, enabling us to understand the Chinese philosophy of “arriving at supreme goodness”. Respecting everyone is one of the secrets to her success, and she has gained respect from everyone who knows her or doesn’t know her. The Book of Changes writes: “As heaven maintains vigor through movements, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-perfection. As earth’s condition is receptive devotion, a gentleman should hold the outer world with broad mind.” This is a precise portrayal of Ms. Yang! Let us once again thank the talented, determined, wise and beautiful lady for sharing her stories, and wish her a brilliant life!

The lecture ended in applause. Ms. Yang’s experiences and stories have inspired the audience who are bearing in mind the Olympic motto of citius, altius, fortius (faster, higher, stronger).