韩小鹏：从没得世界冠军的冬奥黑马
2002年的盐湖城，短道速滑的女将让中国实现了冬奥会上金牌零的突破。这次在都灵，韩小鹏的夺冠意味着雪上项目中国运动员的巨大跨越。韩小鹏战胜了上届冬奥会的冠军、战胜了世界锦标赛的冠军，这位从前的杂技演员说自己一度差点放弃运动生涯……
Han Xiaopeng said he was the darkest horse after winning the Olympic gold medal Thursday in the men's freestyle skiing aerials final%26#46; "I never thought this would happen," said the 22-year-old Han, who burst into ecstasy after the medals were decided%26#46; "I feel like I'm in a dream%26#46;"
Han, who had never won a World Cup event before the Turin Games, produced two almost flawless jumps for the highest combined score to upset a field of big names including current World Cup leader Kyle Nissen of Canada and Belarus'Alexei Girshin, the bronze medalist at the last Games in Salt Lake City%26#46;
China ended its winter Olympics gold drought at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002 when Yang Yang (A) took two short track speed skating titles%26#46; But Han's gold was the country's first on the snow%26#46; "I was so happy to win China its first ever Olympic gold medal in snow sports," said the student at the Shenyang Sports Institutein northeast China's Liaoning province%26#46;
Han was formerly an acrobat but switched to aerials in 1995 after Yang Er'qi spotted his potential in the sport that requires agility and courage%26#46; "I think the men's aerials is designed for China and I'm happy to be the one to make it a reality," he said%26#46;
Han, however, almost quit the sport after tearing his knee ligament months before the Salt Lake City Games, where he eventually finished 24th%26#46; "I was hopeless at that time, but my family and the coach stoodfirmly behind me, helping me through the difficult time," he recalled%26#46;
Han already made history on Monday when he, along with teammateQiu Sen, became the first Chinese men to qualify for an Olympic freestyle aerials final%26#46; He was thus described as a dark horse by the Chinese media%26#46; Han seemed to enjoy the title very much%26#46; "I am the darkest horse," he said%26#46;
重点词汇
ecstasy n%26#46; 入迷
drought n%26#46; 干旱
acrobat n%26#46; 杂技演员
agility n%26#46; 敏捷，活泼
ligament n%26#46; 韧带
quit v%26#46; 离开，放弃