Li Zijun
- Thread starter OS
- Start date
But we'll see her net week at WTT :luv17: Also, she posted on her Instagram a video of her doing a 3flip-3toe saying: perseveres today, there's hope tomorrow. :sad21:
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2010
I just come across this documentary video about Zijun from last year and have no idea if it has been posted here. Maybe those who haven't seen it will enjoy it and get to know her better.
Zijun LI @ My Documentary - Ballet On Ice Skates【我的紀錄片 - 冰刀上的芭蕾】
I really enjoyed her SP @ this WTT. Beautiful Lady skating. Maybe she is more suited for the 6.0 system? Hope she will have some breakthrough with her LP.
Zijun LI @ My Documentary - Ballet On Ice Skates【我的紀錄片 - 冰刀上的芭蕾】
I really enjoyed her SP @ this WTT. Beautiful Lady skating. Maybe she is more suited for the 6.0 system? Hope she will have some breakthrough with her LP.
I wish there would be English subtitles to it! It's really a great documentary about her and the personality she showed there really is the reason I am her fan and love her so much!
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2014
Congratulations to Zijun on her performances at the World Team Trophy. 
Her long program was so mesmerizing that time and space disappeared to me while I was watching her She finally got a score she deserves - but it could have been even higher, considering the *cough* interesting scoring of this competition.
I hope it gives her good feelings at the end of the season, and whatever happens next, confidence for the future too.
Her long program was so mesmerizing that time and space disappeared to me while I was watching her She finally got a score she deserves - but it could have been even higher, considering the *cough* interesting scoring of this competition.I hope it gives her good feelings at the end of the season, and whatever happens next, confidence for the future too.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2010
My main take-aways from this documentary released March 2016:
1) Her parents: Her mother quit her job in order to accompany and support her full time. She watched her training and made detailed records. Her father, as described by Zijun, is the behind the scene supporter taking care of the family. He did not wish to push her too hard, saying winning a much desired Olympic medal depended on a congruence of favorable factors. It was OK with him even if she stopped skating.
2) Her career: She asked to skate when she was little as a way to have time away from her parents. She had an easy rise from a very young age, winning national medals and becoming the best Lady in China. Then physical growth caused major problems in her skating and in her confidence in 2013. Her new coach took over at this difficult time and was quite gentle with her. Meanwhile, she was accused by fans to have been playing too much and not training hard enough, partly because of her social media posting which she then deleted completely. Her team explained that in fact she didn't have time for play at all.
3) Her weight and diet issue: As she increased in height and weight, even simple skating moves failed her. It was decided she needed to watch and keep her weight down. She controlled her eating very carefully even if she was hungry. When her mother wanted to surprise her for her birthday, she said her daughter did not care that much about clothes and beauty like other girls but a delicious cake would make her happy. Zijun's reaction, upon seeing the camera, was quite awkward and asked how she was supposed to act. Her mother asked for a hug.
Her diet and thinness concern me. It did not seem like she was given proper diet education other than to not eat much. I don't even think keeping a very slim figure was/is a solution to her skating issues in a significant way and maybe even a hindrance. She needs proper diet, lean muscles, and strength training to power up her skating.
It seems Zijun really has been working hard and doing the best she can. There are caring and understanding people around her. I feel bad for her results by judges and the current predicament she and her fed are in. I wish her the best and that her years of hard work will be rewarded.
Last edited:
I did some translations of the key moments in the documentary in 2016, it's post #326 on page 22 in this thread. Still wish there'd be subtitles as it's much easier to just watch a video than reading lot's of text and you can hear her intonations and see her expressions when she says something. :luv17:
I, too, wish her the best and that she can pull through all issues:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Last edited:
Zijun updated her Instagram saying: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ！“Only for love”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTNRmGoF7uc/?taken-by=lizijunn
:luv17: Thank you Zijun for your wonderful performance!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTNRmGoF7uc/?taken-by=lizijunn
:luv17: Thank you Zijun for your wonderful performance!
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2014
I was really shocked to read the article about Zhijun's strict diet. It's titled : "Jumping until heaven falls and earth cracks".
"For a long time, she wouldn’t eat proper meals, didn’t even drink enough water. Sometimes, when she was so thirsty she couldn’t stand it, she would rinse her mouth with water and then spit it out,” said her mom, Chunyan Li. She would be able to bear it for a day or two, but they lived that way for about a year. Daughter unable to eat, she would go hungry as well. Sometimes, mother and daughter both kept awake by hunger at night, in neighbouring beds listening to each other’s stomachs growling, gathering strength and encouragement from each other."
I'm surprised that such a dangerous diet is still allowed in this day and age, at an elite sport level. No wonder why she was always short on stamina.
Given that she has worked so hard for her dream when she obviously could have a lot more lucrative opportunities outside skating, I wish she can pull through all issues.
"For a long time, she wouldn’t eat proper meals, didn’t even drink enough water. Sometimes, when she was so thirsty she couldn’t stand it, she would rinse her mouth with water and then spit it out,” said her mom, Chunyan Li. She would be able to bear it for a day or two, but they lived that way for about a year. Daughter unable to eat, she would go hungry as well. Sometimes, mother and daughter both kept awake by hunger at night, in neighbouring beds listening to each other’s stomachs growling, gathering strength and encouragement from each other."
I'm surprised that such a dangerous diet is still allowed in this day and age, at an elite sport level. No wonder why she was always short on stamina.
Given that she has worked so hard for her dream when she obviously could have a lot more lucrative opportunities outside skating, I wish she can pull through all issues.
Zijun's SP and FS at WTT is really a great effort, best "Only for love" from her. I love her deep edges, weightless float, ease of edge changes in this performance. Also, much better arms use as well (but come on, those arms are beautiful to look at even without doing anything ) I felt that, Zijun has finally become her own. A unique presence on ice, you will only get from her.
Chinese fans also mesmerized by her WTT performances. and are supporting her right now, considering this season's turmoil.
I hope she will persevere and become even better next season, I for one as a figure skating fan, wanna to see more from her.
Just wanna say, no matter what, you performance on ice is the everything and only thing that matters.
Chinese fans also mesmerized by her WTT performances. and are supporting her right now, considering this season's turmoil.
I hope she will persevere and become even better next season, I for one as a figure skating fan, wanna to see more from her.
Just wanna say, no matter what, you performance on ice is the everything and only thing that matters.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2010
I too was surprised at her diet and strict limit of intake of food and water. I've never known of water deprivation as a way to slim down or keeping a low body weight. It goes against health promotion and requirements. Foods with high sodium/salt additives need to be limited to avoid water retention although sodium-potassium balance is the real issue. I don't know how she learned to do this and will be shocked if it's advocated by her trainer or any sport advisor.
I think the Chinese fed has been Pairs centric due to the tradition of great success of Chinese Pairs in figure skating. The Chinese Pairs girls were tall so it was especially essential for them to maintain as low a body weight as possible. Zijun is a Single skater who needs to skate and do solo jumps with power. It's not fit for her to model after the Pairs girls who are necessarily light to facilitate the throw jumps and the vertical lifts and throws. Canadian Ladies, as well as Pairs' Meagan Duhamel with her unassisted jumping ability, shows the importance of muscle and strength for women in figure skating. I hope the Chinese fed will come to this realization and help Zijun properly and in a healthful way. As much as Zijun's slim body plays a part in her grace and elegance, she can stand to build some lean muscles without impediment to her on ice presence and quality of movements.
Last edited:
this seasons' FS music "only for love" is a bold and her own choice. Many including myself thought it is very difficult to skate to. first of all the music itself is not edited good enough to help you. second, nobody has ever skated to it. Yet zijun's final "only for love" outing. truly touched many people. yes, good skating, is just good and is infectious. Maybe, it is her experience... when she skates, she felt it.
zijun has left her own mark in figure skating history book.
the lyric of this song, it almost felt self narrative.
只为一支歌. 血染红寂寞. 只为一场梦. 摔碎了山河. 只为一颗心. 爱到分离才相遇. 只为一滴泪. 模糊了恩仇.
i attempt to translate parts of it:
just for a song, red blood stained loneness
just for a dream, fragmented rivers and mountains
just for a heart, only meet when severing.
just for a tear, blurred love and hatred.
Zijun (in several occastions) and her friend pair skater Ceng Peng, has expressed and encouraged her to give her all only for love.
zijun has left her own mark in figure skating history book.
the lyric of this song, it almost felt self narrative.
只为一支歌. 血染红寂寞. 只为一场梦. 摔碎了山河. 只为一颗心. 爱到分离才相遇. 只为一滴泪. 模糊了恩仇.
i attempt to translate parts of it:
just for a song, red blood stained loneness
just for a dream, fragmented rivers and mountains
just for a heart, only meet when severing.
just for a tear, blurred love and hatred.
Zijun (in several occastions) and her friend pair skater Ceng Peng, has expressed and encouraged her to give her all only for love.
Last edited:
Only for Love is far too emotional and soulful for her to interpret . I felt she was only able to connect properly to the music at the last couple of seconds in the skate. Zijun has elegant arms and a graceful body but her skating is slow and she doesn't have a great range of facial expressions. I think she should go with something softer and of lighter mood eg her Clair de Lune or Sleeping beauty kind of music. Something that shows her grace and elegance and not her lack of energy.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2014
That music is not her choice. Lori picked it for her. She revealed in an interview that when Lori suggested it to her, she felt it was not Chinese music but the lyric sounds like Chinese so she asked Lori: is it a Chinese song?
But she certainly loves that music as she expressed several times already.
after I saw Zijun's best outing of "Only for Love" at WTT, I felt different from you and disagree with you here. So as many other skating fans. Your statement here is generic critic of Zijun's skating. but not applicable specifically to her WTT outing here. That is all I wanna say.
That music is not her choice. Lori picked it for her. She revealed in an interview that when Lori suggested it to her, she felt it was not Chinese music but the lyric sounds like Chinese so she asked Lori: is it a Chinese song?
But she certainly loves that music as she expressed several times already.
Zijun is Jane Zhang's music fan, this music is one of Jane's signature song, very famous. it is kinda ridiculous that Zijun does not know this song...
Zijun also got a standing O from Japanese audience. I know Japanese audience is nice but they certainly did not give all skaters at WTT a SO.
Some people went and watched WTT live and left msg on Zijun's weibo. how amazed watching her live. I can only imagine. since I was lucky to witness two of Zijun's best performances live. I understand what they have witnessed. some fans even expressed "have to watch Zijun live once" kinda intention.
As for OG season, I wish Zijun can choose music wisely, music that can help/carry her. I wish at least better music editing. make it more layered (I highly suggest Choreographer David Wilson, cos his music editing never disappoints, but you get what can get...). Since it is OG season, usually OG season is not for some thing extreme artsy. all things considered.
Some people went and watched WTT live and left msg on Zijun's weibo. how amazed watching her live. I can only imagine. since I was lucky to witness two of Zijun's best performances live. I understand what they have witnessed. some fans even expressed "have to watch Zijun live once" kinda intention.
As for OG season, I wish Zijun can choose music wisely, music that can help/carry her. I wish at least better music editing. make it more layered (I highly suggest Choreographer David Wilson, cos his music editing never disappoints, but you get what can get...). Since it is OG season, usually OG season is not for some thing extreme artsy. all things considered.
I still think that she excels better in classical and elegant music.
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2014
Yeah, but still that song is not her choice and she had never heard of it until Lori showed her. Actually, I am not sure if Zijun became Jane's fan after using her song or she was already her fan before that.
Last edited:
Similar threads
