Buoyant Xu sees silver lining

Disqualifications prove costly, but London champ vows to sail on

China's Xu Lijia leans into a turn during the laser radial competition. [Photo/Agencies]

Navigating waves and squalls at sea, Chinese sailing star Xu Lijia has fully embraced the sport despite a disappointing end to her third Olympics.

As the sun blazed down on the waves in Rio's Guanabara Bay on Saturday afternoon, Xu and her small boat loomed on the horizon, gradually becoming clearer as she steered to shore after the 10th race in the laser radial regatta.

Hit by a shoulder injury and three disqualification penalties in previous rounds, Xu finished the race 18th overall, missing out on the chance to defend the title she won at the 2012 London Games.

Still, the 28-year-old took it all in stride.

"I won't end up complaining that the officiating was unfair, although I felt pretty sad about that (the three disqualification penalties)," said Xu, who won China's first gold medal in the event four years ago.

Citing interference and contact with their boats, three opponents filed protests against Xu in the second, seventh and eighth races.

The event's arbitration board ruled in their favor and disqualified Xu in all three races, throwing her out of the top-10 final qualification group.

"The result is a little disappointing, but to be able to come back and make the Olympics again, I am happy enough," said Xu, who retired for two years after competing at the 2013 National Games for her native Shanghai team.

During her two-year hiatus, the soft-spoken Xu finished her undergraduate studies in human resource management at Shanghai's Jiao Tong University.

She then applied for a postgraduate program in international management at the University of Southampton in England.

Although she enjoyed life as a college student, the desire to sail again and the inspiring story of Brazil's six-time Olympian sailor Robert Scheidt prompted her to make a comeback.

While the challenge of recovering her fitness and striking a balance between Olympic preparations and postgraduate studies proved a difficult task, Xu had long since become accustomed to overcoming adversity.

Born with vision and hearing impairments, Xu, who originally trained as a swimmer, launched her sailing career in an optimist class boat in 1997 and won consecutive world titles in 2001 and 2002.

She was diagnosed with a leg tumor in 2002, and surgery to remove it dashed her hopes of competing in what would have been her first Olympics, the 2004 Athens Games.

After a lengthy recovery, Xu's strength and fitness improved enough for her to claim the bronze medal in laser radial in front of a home crowd at the 2008 Beijing Games before making Chinese sailing history by claiming gold in London.

"Sailing has taught me so many of life's lessons, such as courage, teamwork and caring for the environment," she said.

"After these Games are over, I would love to share those valuable lessons with more people."

Xu said her goal is to introduce the training program used by Britain's Royal Yachting Association to Chinese clubs and to ultimately serve as a liaison between sailing organizations in the two countries after she returns to Southampton in September to complete her studies.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn