Feature: Roller sports star Guo Dan back for fun at World Games

CHENGDU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- After securing two golds and one silver at age of 23 at The World Games in 2013, China's roller sports star Guo Dan went on to win titles across World Championships and World Cups - but never returned to The World Games stage until now.

Although she has retired in 2024, the 34-year-old chose to make her comeback at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

"After winning two golds, I reached the top of the world in roller sports in The World Games," said Guo, adding that she wanted to enjoy the competition this time at home.

Trying her best to skate across the finish line, Guo placed sixth in the women's 10,000m point race final on Tuesday and was eliminated from the women's 15,000m race on Wednesday.

"I've been away from games for a very long time," said Guo, noting that she was grateful for her hard work and good form when she was young, which allowed her to still compete with elite athletes around the globe.

After her 2013 World Games success, Guo started from scratch in pursuit of a new goal. Inspired by the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, she set her sights on competing in speed skating at the Winter Games.

She aimed to become China's first athlete to compete in both roller and speed skating. Training on the rink during the day and the ice rink at night, her legs were often too swollen to fit into her skates.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Guo's dream came true when she competed in the women's mass start, finishing 10th in her first Winter Games.

"It's a dream come true for me, and I fought until the last moment at the Winter Olympics," Guo said.

In 2019, she suffered a bad injury in her left ankle, with doctors saying it was impossible for her to return.

"I really want to be back on that stage," said Guo, adding that she miraculously returned to competition three months after the surgery and later took part in the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.

Guo officially retired in 2024 and joined the Physical Education Department of Suzhou University of Science and Technology as a university teacher, believing her sports career was over.

"The World Games are held in China, which is great," said Guo.

"The athletes I compete against are about five to eight years younger than me, and I really enjoy this event," said Guo. ■