Summary of Key Points
This report focuses on the journey of An Xiangyi (Nini), a talented figure skater known as a "genius girl." Under her mother, Zhang Aijun's "corporate-style" family management and rigorous training, she once became a promising star in Chinese figure skating with her advanced spins and jumps. However, her career faced challenges due to physical development, injuries, and changes in rules, preventing her from competing in the Milan Olympics. Now, she is gradually transitioning into a coach, while her mother has shifted from being a strict "tiger mom" to a more supportive role that allows her daughter to grow independently. The report also reveals the high costs and competitive pressures within the figure skating industry, as well as the complex role of families in nurturing professional athletes.
1. Managing the Family Like a Company: A Unique Parent-Child Relationship
Zhang Aijun operates her family like a business. She acts as the "commander," responsible for the overall planning (training direction and resource allocation), while her husband, An Longhe, is the "technical director" (figure skating coach). Nini, the "core employee," has received a salary since she was 4 years old, ranging from 50 yuan to 10% of the performance earnings. Expenses over 500 yuan require official approval. The family communicates in writing to avoid emotional arguments and maintains financial independence (her husband contributes to the family's income, with no financial overlap between them).
Why this approach? Zhang Aijun believes that while starting a business is easy, maintaining it is difficult, and removing emotional ties is necessary to ensure Nini's success in figure skating. For example, if Nini wants to go out, she must submit a request via WeChat; buying a dress requires her mother's approval. This structure gives the family clear goals, but it also leads to conflicts (such as arguments over what clothes to wear for dinner).
2. The High Costs of Figure Skating: Millions Invested with No Guaranteed Returns
Figure skating is considered an expensive sport, with high costs for coaches, ice rink fees, performance attire (Kostüm), and physical training. The report mentions the "2A jump" (a complex combination of spins) as a costly endeavor that may take two years to master and require millions in investment. Zhang Aijun acknowledges that even successful moments can be undone by subsequent issues like growth or injuries, as well as changes in rules.
How intense is the competition? In the current women's singles category, athletes must perform difficult jumps to score points. Nini struggled with new rules because she didn't learn the "Prerotation" technique, which affected her performance. Parents are also highly competitive, some obtaining coaching certifications and spending hours at the rink, even setting up tents to wait for their children.
3. The Talented Girl's Setbacks: Growth, Injuries, and Rules
Nini, once known for her impressive spins, faced a career plateau at 19:
- Growth Issues: She grew from the expected height of 1.6 meters to 1.68 meters, and weight gain affected her jumping ability.
- Injuries: Recurrent injuries (fibula protrusion and back problems) forced her to withdraw from competitions.
- Rule Changes: Her lack of the Prerotation technique put her at a disadvantage in the new competitive landscape.
- Psychological Pressure: She cried after a mistake at the World Championships, fearing criticism about her weight and public perception of her as just a child playing on ice.
Her mindset has changed; she no longer passively follows her mother's instructions but now makes her own choices (such as refusing to wear the fluorescent green dress her mother picked).
4. The Mother's Transition from Strict Control to Supportive Guidance
Zhang Aijun, once a strict parent, gradually relaxed her control:
- Reducing Intervention: She no longer watches training sessions or competitions but provides general guidance.
- Fostering Independence: She encourages Nini to learn about finance, do her own laundry, and experience living independently by renting an apartment.
- Adjusting Her Goals: She now aims for Nini to become a "independent artist" or to redefine figure skating through short videos.
Her anxiety is genuine: she fears her daughter becoming too famous and the pressure of expectations, resembling the mother in the movie "The Wrong Time." She also worries about being ridiculed by others due to her daughter's injuries. However, she believes her role as a parent is to support her daughter's future.
5. The Family Dynamics Behind Figure Skating: Every Parent Faces Similar Challenges
The report highlights other parents in the figure skating community:
- Xu Fei's daughter learned new moves despite wanting to give up, cherishing the moments of praise from peers.
- Some parents prepare everything needed for training at the rink (yoga mats, foam rollers), waiting for hours.
Why do they persevere? Figure skating is a niche sport with relatively quick results. Children enjoy the thrill of skating, and parents are driven by the high investment. However, everyone feels uncertain about the future despite the risks.
6. Not a Case of "Over-Parenting Failure": A Different Path to Growth
Some online critics label Nini's situation as a failure of over-parenting, but Zhang Aijun argues otherwise. Nini has won national and Asian championships and been admitted to C9 University (Xi'an Jiaotong University). For her, figure skating is not her only focus; she now works as a coach and enjoys activities like puzzle-solving. Although there are regrets, this experience has made her more independent. Zhang Aijun's approach reflects a mother's effort to find the best path for her child amidst the pressures of the times and the industry.
In summary, this report provides an insightful look into the challenges and complexities involved in raising a professional athlete through figure skating, highlighting both the achievements and the personal sacrifices parents make.