While much of the U.S. coverage of He Kexin focused on her age, there were many profiles of He Kexin in the Chinese press. They painted a portrait almost entirely different in emphasis: not a suspicious document trail, but a girl from Beijing with trembling hands and an idol named Khorkina.
The American story was essentially demographic — a birth year, an age, a discrepancy. The Chinese story was biographical, and its details had the texture of something lived rather than constructed. A coach named Shang Chunyan remembered going to a kindergarten near Yonghegong in 1997, looking for recruits among five-year-olds. She noticed a small girl — not tall, not overweight, nothing exceptional yet. She took her anyway. That girl, years later, would win China’s seventh gold medal of the Beijing Games.
The road was not straight. When the national team selectors visited the Beijing squad to scout for Olympic prospects, their first impression of He Kexin was unflattering. She was “bent everywhere,” one coach recalled — her movements awkward, her form uninspiring. The only time she looked graceful was when she was upside down. They took her on that basis, as something of a gamble, and she rewarded the gamble almost immediately. A foot injury that ruled out balance beam and floor exercise forced her coaches to try an experiment: put her entirely on the uneven bars. In two months, she had mastered the Li Ya salto, one of the most demanding release skills in the sport. Her coaches were astonished. The nickname “Princess of the Uneven Bars” was not far behind.
But the profiles also preserved the setbacks. At the 2007 City Games, she fell off uneven bars. Afterward, she sat alone in the stands and watched the rest of the competition in silence, refusing to eat, refusing to rest — as if she were punishing herself. It was, reporters noted, the most heartbroken she had ever been. That moment of private devastation appears in multiple accounts, always in the same register: not as a scandal but as evidence of seriousness, of how much it mattered to her. The same attentiveness extended to smaller details. During a team training check, coaches discovered she had skipped lunch and eaten only a piece of chocolate before the afternoon competition. She told them she was afraid of feeling heavy on the apparatus. She never threw a temper tantrum when disciplined. When a surprise dormitory inspection ended with everyone else quietly slipping away, she stayed and cleaned the room herself.
By the time the Beijing Olympics arrived, these stories had accumulated into a coherent character: diligent, self-possessed, quietly stubborn. On the night of the uneven bars final, competing first against a field that included three recent world champions, she admitted afterward that her hands had been shaking. She said she hadn’t let herself think about the gold medal, because the more you think about gold, the more pressure you feel. She performed a flawless routine. When American star Nastia Liukin matched her score of 16.725, He Kexin didn’t yet know the tie-breaking rules that would ultimately decide in her favor; she thought they might simply share the gold. When the rankings appeared on the screen, and she realized she had won outright, she ran over to Yang Yilin, who had just finished her own routine, and lifted her up.
The profiles collected here were published across several days in August 2008, in outlets ranging from the People’s Daily and Oriental Sports Daily to the PLA Daily, which capped its coverage with an earnest poem comparing He Kexin to a swallow in flight. These profiles are historical documents not only of what she accomplished, but of how China chose to present her.
China’s New Gymnastics Stars Revealed: Jiang Yuyuan Becomes Famous Overnight, He Kexin Is a Princess
July 29, 2008
Source: Oriental Sports Daily
Reporter: Che LiHe Kexin is widely regarded as a favorite to win the uneven bars gold medal, while Jiang Yuyuan, thanks to her all-around strength across all four events, has become a mainstay of China’s women’s team and a strong contender for the all-around gold. That these two young girls have attracted such attention from foreign media is, from another perspective, recognition of their abilities.
He Kexin – “Princess of the Uneven Bars”
As breakout stars of the past year, many people previously knew little about them. Yet their strength and results are convincing.
Nicknamed the “Princess of the Uneven Bars,” He Kexin rose to fame through her work on that apparatus. “He Kexin’s emergence has restored uneven bars—traditionally a strength of the Chinese women’s team—to the ranks of the world’s best,” said women’s team head coach Lu Shanzhen, affirming the young gymnast’s ability.
Born in Beijing in 1992, He is the type of athlete with exceptional intuition. “She’s smart, perceptive, and learns skills very quickly. She mastered the ‘Li Ya salto’ in just two months and could perform it independently. She always exceeds her training assignments. In addition, He Kexin adapts very well—she never picks or chooses apparatus in training. She can go up and perform immediately, and her success rate in competition is high,” said her personal coach Liu Guicheng.
At the 2008 Cottbus Gymnastics World Cup, she earned a rare 16.850—an exceptionally high score for an exceptionally difficult routine—and captured the uneven bars gold medal. Meanwhile, her new title, “Princess of the Uneven Bars,” spread quickly among her European “fans.”
On a European sports forum, many commented on her performances. Some praised her as a “Princess of the Uneven Bars” capable of “performing moves that drive people crazy.” Others called her China’s “secret weapon,” and some declared she would “definitely” win gold at the Beijing Olympics.
On May 10, 2008, at the National Gymnastics Championships and Olympic Trials, He once again claimed the uneven bars title with her “Li Ya salto,” posting a remarkable 17.325—the highest score awarded since the FIG implemented its new Code of Points in 2006. At these Olympic Games, He Kexin has her sights firmly set on the uneven bars gold medal.
Jiang Yuyuan – “Small Stature, Great Power”
Mention Jiang Yuyuan and people think of “overnight fame.” At the 2007 Shanghai World Cup, she won titles on uneven bars and floor exercise. On May 9, 2008, at the National Gymnastics Championships and Olympic Trials, she outperformed the field to claim her first women’s all-around national title.
“Jiang Yuyuan definitely isn’t a prodigy,” recalls her former provincial coach Zhu Yibin. “She was recruited by Wenzhou from Liuzhou, Guangxi. When she arrived, she was only about 1.2 meters tall and weighed just over 20 kilograms. My first impression was: how could this child be so tiny?”
Although Jiang now stands at 140 centimeters and weighs over 30 kilograms, she remains the smallest athlete on China’s Olympic team. Yet her ability has never gone unnoticed. She is a true all-around gymnast, with each apparatus reaching world-leading standards. Floor exercise is her strongest event; on vault she performs one of the most difficult skills in the world—a round-off back handspring straight 900-degree twist; on balance beam her difficulty ranks among the best globally; and her uneven bars work is also strong. She can be considered one of the key figures behind China’s pursuit of strong team results.
“Jiang Yuyuan’s characteristic is her small stature but light, beautiful movements—she’s a power-type gymnast,” her coach explained.
Because of her age advantage and strong international performances, Jiang is regarded as a “rising star” of Chinese gymnastics. With the Beijing Olympics approaching, the young gymnast hopes not only to help the team achieve success but also to make a breakthrough in the all-around. And her ambitions extend beyond Beijing: at just 16 years old, she has set her sights on a longer-term goal—four years later, in London.
中国体操新星曝光 江钰源一夜成名何可欣是公主
来源：东方体育日报
本报记者 车莉
何可欣是被外界看好拿下高低杠金牌的选手，而江钰源也凭借自己在四个单项上的全面能力而成为中国女团的主要力量和全能金牌的有力争夺者。两个小姑娘如此受到外电的关注，从另一个角度看，也是对她们能力的一种肯定。
何可欣 “高低杠公主”
由于是近一年多来冒出的新星，许多人对她们并不了解，可是她们实力和成绩足以让人信服。
被称为“高低杠公主”的何可欣，以高低杠扬名赛场。“何可欣的出现，让中国女队的传统强项高低杠重新回到了世界强手行列。”女队主教练陆善真的评语肯定了小姑娘的实力。
1992年出生于北京的何可欣，属于那种悟性高的运动员，“脑子聪明、悟性好、学动作非常快。‘李娅空翻’仅仅学了两个月，就能独立完成，训练任务总能超额完成。此外，何可欣的适应能力很强，训练中从不挑器械，上去就能做，比赛中成功率高。”她的主管教练刘桂成评价道。
2008年科特布斯体操世界杯，她以罕见的难度得到了罕见的16.850的高分，并将高低杠金牌收入囊中。与此同时，何可欣的“高低杠公主”的新头衔在其欧洲的“粉丝”中不胫而走。
一个欧洲体育论坛上有不少对她的评论，有人称赞其为“能表演让人疯狂的动作”的“高低杠公主”，有人称其是中国体操队的“秘密武器”，有人称其“肯定”能在北京奥运会上拿金牌。
2008年5月10日，在全国体操锦标赛暨奥运选拔赛上，何可欣凭借“李娅空翻”，再度蝉联了高低杠冠军，并且制造了17.325的超高分，这也是自2006年世界体联实施新规则以来的最高得分。本届奥运会，何可欣把目标瞄准了高低杠冠军。
江钰源 “小个头大能量”
说到江钰源，就能想到“一夜成名”。2007年世界杯上海站，她夺得高低杠、自由操冠军；2008年5月9日的全国体操锦标赛暨奥运选拔赛，她技压群芳，首次摘得女子全能金牌……“江钰源肯定不是天才”江钰源在省队时的教练朱毅斌至今还记得当年她入队的样子：“她是温州市从广西柳州引进的队员，来的时候个头才1米20多，体重也才40多斤，我的第一印象就是这孩子怎么长得这么小？”
虽说现在的江钰源的身高达到了140公分、体重也有了60多斤，可她还是中国奥运军团个子最小的选手。不过，江钰源却从没有让人忽略她的能力。她是一个全能型选手，各单项都达到了世界领先的水平，自由体操是她最强的项目，在跳马项目中也掌握着练全世界难度最高的踺子后手翻直体900度，而平衡木的难度已达到了世界第一的水平，高低杠的实力也不弱。可以说是中国女队获得好成绩的关键人物之一。“江钰源的特点是个子小，但动作轻盈漂亮，属于力量型选手。”她的教练介绍说。
由于年龄优势和在国际大赛上的不俗表现，江钰源被视为中国体操的“希望之星”。北京奥运会近在眼前，小姑娘希望在帮助团体取得好成绩之外，在全能项目上也能实现突破。不仅仅是北京奥运会，刚刚16岁的她，更远的目标还在四年之后的伦敦。
He Kexin “With Trembling Hands” Wins Gold — Chinese Gymnastics Rises Again
August 19, 2008
Source: Oriental Sports Daily
Special Correspondent: Che LiThe seventh gold medal — He Kexin rewrote the best-ever Olympic performance in the history of the Chinese gymnastics team. A precious uneven bars gold medal returned to Chinese hands after 16 years. This traditional strength of Chinese women’s gymnastics has finally announced to the world its resurgence.
Yesterday marked the second day of the gymnastics apparatus finals. In the women’s uneven bars final, eight of the world’s top athletes delivered the most intense and heart-stopping competition of the Games.
The eight finalists represented virtually all the leading figures in the event in recent years: 2005 World Champion Liukin, 2006 World Champion Tweddle, 2007 World Champion Semenova, as well as China’s two young standouts, both carrying an A-score of 7.7. In the end, the young gymnast known as the “Princess of the Uneven Bars,” He Kexin, edged out American star Liukin to take the title, while another Chinese youngster, Yang Yilin, claimed the bronze.
Last night’s uneven bars final was arguably the fiercest apparatus showdown. Competing first, He Kexin withstood enormous pressure and put aside the disappointment of her qualification-round mistake, delivering a flawless routine of extremely high difficulty to earn 16.725. Although Liukin received the same total score, this Olympic Games abolished tied gold medals. Since their A-scores were identical, judges removed the highest and lowest scores; when the remaining four scores were also equal, another lowest score was dropped. In that calculation, He Kexin’s score was higher, allowing her to claim the gold outright.
At just 16 years old and competing in her first major world championship, He was crowned Olympic champion — ending China’s 16-year wait and securing the country’s third Olympic uneven bars title.
Earlier at the National Gymnastics Championships, she had already won over spectators and judges with a flawless routine. On the strength of those performances, He Kexin and Deng Linlin displaced veterans Zhang Nan, Pang Panpan, and He Ning to earn Olympic selection. He did not disappoint.
He Kexin expressed great joy at her victory: “I’m very satisfied with my performance.” In qualification, she had made a mistake on the “Li Ya salto,” but after experiencing both the preliminaries and the team final, by the third time she stepped onto the Olympic uneven bars stage, she was able to face the competition with greater composure.
Still, she admitted she felt nervous beforehand: “My hands were trembling.”
“I wasn’t expecting to win gold, because the more you think about it, the more pressure you feel. Individual competition is more nerve-wracking than the team event. This is my first Olympics, so I was a little nervous — but now it’s my third event, and I can control my emotions. I’ve trained very hard. I want to say to my mom and dad — I haven’t seen them in a month — ‘I love you. Thank you for your support.’” He Kexin said.
何可欣“颤抖着双手”拿下金牌 中国体操重崛起
来源：东方体育日报
特派记者 车莉
第七金，何可欣让这个中国体操队的历史最好成绩再次改写，一枚弥足珍贵的高低杠金牌，在16年后再次回到中国选手的手中，中国女子体操这一传统强项，终于向世人宣告了它的重新崛起。
昨天的体操单项比赛进行到第二天，在女子高低杠比赛中，八名世界顶尖选手演出了一场竞争最激烈最惊心动魄的比赛。
进入决赛的八名选手汇集了近年来该项目上的所有高手，这其中有05年世锦赛冠军柳金，06年世锦赛冠军特维德尔和07年世锦赛冠军赛梅诺娃，还有中国两朵都拥有A分7.7的小花，结果，有着“高低杠公主”之称得小将何可欣力压美国名将柳金摘得桂冠，另一名中国小将、杨伊琳获得铜牌。
昨晚的高低杠比赛可以说是争夺最为激烈的单项决赛，第一个出场的何可欣顶住巨大压力，也挥去了预赛失误的阴霾，完美地完成了这套难度系数极大的动作，最终得到16.725的高分。虽然美国名将柳金也得到同样的高分，但由于本届奥运会取消了并列冠军，所以在两人A分相同的情况下，去掉一个最高分和一个最低分后剩下的四个有效分也相同的话，就再去掉一个最低分，这样何可欣的得分更高，所以独享了这枚金牌，第一次参加世界大赛的16岁小将加冕奥运冠军，也结束了中国体操16年的等待，第三次夺得奥运会高低杠冠军。
在之前的体操全国冠军赛上，她就以一套完美的动作征服了在场观众和裁判，凭借这样的表现何可欣也和邓琳琳一起挤掉了老将张楠、庞盼盼和何宁等人，一举入选奥运阵容。何可欣没有让人们失望。能够夺冠，何可欣非常高兴，她说：能够得到金牌，感觉很满意自己的表现。预赛中何可欣在做“李娅空翻”时出现了失误，不过经过了预赛和团体赛决赛的洗礼，第三次站到奥运会高低杠赛场上的何可欣已经可以更加轻松地面对比赛。
不过，何可欣也承认上场之前自己感觉还是有些紧张，“手都有点抖”，“我并没有期待夺取金牌，因为想得越多压力越大。个人比赛比团体比赛更紧张。这是我首次参加奥运会，因此我有点紧张，但现在已经是我的第三项比赛了，我能控制自己的情绪了。我努力训练，我想对我的爸爸妈妈(一个月没看到他们了)说，‘我爱你们，感谢你们的支持。’”何可欣说道。
He Kexin Nearly Missed National Team Selection; Yang Yilin Grew Stronger Through Gymnastics
August 19, 2008
Source: Beijing Entertainment NewsLast night, 16-year-old Chinese gymnast He Kexin thrillingly captured the Olympic women’s uneven bars title under the “tie-breaking” rule. Afterward, He said that when she saw runner-up Liukin receive the same score as she did, she thought they would share the gold medal. This victory made He the third Chinese gymnast to win Olympic gold on uneven bars, following Ma Yanhong (1984 Los Angeles) and Lu Li (1992 Barcelona).
Competition
Lifting Yang Yilin After the Event
Competing first, He Kexin earned 16.725 with high difficulty and quality execution. Later, American star Liukin matched that score with equal difficulty.
“I thought we would just tie,” He admitted.
However, after recalculating under the tie-breaking rule, He was ultimately awarded the gold. She frankly acknowledged: “At the time, I didn’t know the rule either.” It was only when the rankings appeared on the big screen that she realized she had placed higher.
He said she had not focused on winning gold beforehand: “The more you think about winning, the more pressure you feel. I just wanted to perform my routine well. I wanted to show everyone a beautiful, elegant uneven bars routine — that’s what made me happiest.”
After Yang Yilin completed her routine and dismounted, the petite He unexpectedly ran over and lifted her up. When asked about that “impulsive act,” the shy He smiled sheepishly: “I thought she did very well too. We both represent China.”
Nervous at the Start
In qualification, He had fallen from the uneven bars. But in both the team final and the apparatus final, she completed her routines successfully.
“In qualification, it was my first time competing in a major event, so I was nervous — my movements felt very floaty. This was already my third competition (at the Olympics), and I felt more in control.”
After her earlier mistake, He adjusted her mindset: “Once you make a mistake, don’t dwell on it. Over these past two days, I only thought about how the good routines and good competitions were done.”
In the final, she competed first. “I was still quite nervous — a bit stiff — and my hands were trembling.”
“Were you afraid someone after you might surpass you?”
“No. I just felt that as long as I defeated myself, that was enough.”
After the Competition
Wanting to Dedicate the Gold to Her Parents
When He Kexin stepped onto the top of the uneven bars podium, she became the third Chinese gymnast to win Olympic gold on the event, after Ma Yanhong in 1984 and Lu Li in 1992.
“I want to dedicate this gold medal to my parents,” He said afterward.
In the mixed zone, with a look of youthful innocence, she told reporters: “What makes me happiest is performing a beautiful, elegant uneven bars routine for the audience.”
When asked whom she most wanted to dedicate the medal to, she immediately replied, “My parents. Right now I want to tell them: I love you. Thank you for your support. Without your support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Her Path
Nearly Missed the National Team
“I don’t feel it’s hard. Practicing every day, learning different skills — I find it all very interesting.”
Sixteen-year-old Beijing native He Kexin speaks about her gymnastics career with a stubborn determination. It was precisely that persistence that quickly earned her a place on the Beijing gymnastics team.
In 2005, the national team began selecting athletes for the Beijing Olympics, but He almost wasn’t chosen.
“When we went to the Beijing team to scout, He Kexin didn’t look especially impressive physically and didn’t yet have many skills. At first, we weren’t very interested. But we didn’t expect that she had a particularly good feel for uneven bars and strong jumping ability. Those characteristics moved us — that’s why we eventually brought her from the Beijing team,” recalled national women’s team coach Liu Qunlin.
何可欣当年差点落选国家队 杨伊琳因体操变坚强
昨晚，中国16岁小将何可欣根据“打破平分”的规则，惊险夺得奥运会女子高低杠冠军。何可欣赛后表示，看到亚军柳金和她拿到相同分数时，她还以为会并列冠军。这枚金牌使何可欣成为继马燕红、陆莉之后中国队第三个获得奥运会女子高低杠的冠军。
比赛
赛后抱起杨伊琳
第一个上场的何可欣以高难度和高质量拿到16.725分，但后上场的美国名将柳金以同样难度得到了相同的分数。何可欣说：“我还以为就并列呗。”但按照“打破平分”规则再次计算小分后，何可欣最终拿到了冠军。对于这个规则，何可欣老实承认：“当时我也不知道这个规则。”直到看到名次在大屏幕上打出来，她才知道自己名次比对方高。
何可欣表示，赛前并没有想拿金牌的问题：“因为越想拿压力就越大，我就把动作做好就行。我要把很好的、很漂亮的动作拿给大家看，这是我最高兴的。”
杨伊琳完成动作下杠后，个头小小的何可欣上去居然把她抱了起来。说到当时的“冲动之举”，腼腆的何可欣不好意思地笑了：“我觉得她做得也很好，我们都代表中国嘛。”
刚上场时挺紧张
资格赛时，何可欣从高低杠上摔了下来，但团体决赛和这次单项决赛，她都顺利完成了动作。何可欣说：“资格赛是我第一次参加大赛，有点紧张，动作特别飘；这次已是(奥运会)第三场了，觉得自己有感觉了，可以控制。”
出现失误后，何可欣也进行了调整：“我觉得失误了就不要去多想了，这两天就想好的动作、好的比赛是怎么过来的。”
决赛时何可欣第一个出场，她说：“我还是挺紧张的，有点僵，上去手有点抖。”“那怕不怕后面的人超过你？”“不怕，我觉得战胜自己就行。”
赛后
想把金牌献父母
当何可欣登上女子高低杠的最高领奖台，她就成为继1984年洛杉矶奥运会的马燕红、1992年巴塞罗那奥运会的陆莉之后，第三位获得这个项目奥运金牌的中国选手。何可欣赛后说：“想把金牌献给父母。”
在混合采访区内，一脸纯真的何可欣告诉记者：“我最高兴的就是给观众们表演一套漂亮优美的高低杠动作。”当被问到最想把金牌献给谁时，何可欣脱口而出说“父母”，“我现在就想对他们说，我爱你们，谢谢你们的支持，只有你们的支持我才能有今天。”
星路
差点落选国家队
“不觉得苦，每天练习，学习各种技巧，我都觉得很有趣。”今年16岁的北京“小丫”何可欣，说起体操生涯，透着一股子倔劲儿，正是凭着这股劲头，小可欣很快进入北京体操队。
2005年，国家队开始为北京奥运会选拔队员，但何可欣差点没被相中。“去北京队看了，那时何可欣外形不是太好，又不会什么动作，我们开始看了并不太想要。没想到她在高低杠上的感觉特别好，弹跳力也不错。她的这些特点打动了我们，这才从北京队把她带走了。”国家女队教练刘群林回忆说。
He Kexin Was Once Said to Have Unattractive Form: “She Only Looked Good Upside Down”
August 19, 2008
Source: People’s Daily Online
Reporter: Zheng Xiaolong (Beijing)According to He Kexin’s first coach, Shang Chunyan, in 1997 her Dongcheng District sports school went to a kindergarten near Yonghegong to scout young talent. Five-year-old He Kexin caught her eye. Shang felt that little Kexin, who was neither tall nor overweight, met the basic physical criteria for a young gymnastics prospect.
After a period of training, Coach Shang became very confident in He’s ability. “Kexin had strong strength, good bounce, and explosive power.” What also left a deep impression was He’s love for gymnastics. Shang recalled that even when she had a fever or was sick, He insisted that her parents take her to training.
With that stubborn determination, He was selected by the Shichahai Sports School at age eight, and two years later she entered the Beijing team.
However, the journey from the Beijing team to the national team was not smooth. According to a national team coach, when the selection group went to the Beijing team to scout talent, they felt that He Kexin was “bent everywhere” — her movements did not look particularly beautiful. But when she was upside down, her body line looked fairly good. In the end, it was on that basis that she was selected for the national team.
Once on the national team, He’s talent on uneven bars quickly became apparent. Coach Liu Guicheng evaluated her: “She’s smart, perceptive, and learns skills very quickly. She mastered the ‘Li Ya salto’ in just two months and could perform it independently. She always exceeds her training assignments.”
With such diligence and natural understanding, He gradually began to stand out on the national team. However, because of her young age, it was not until this year — after turning 16 — that she was finally able to compete on the world stage and display her exceptional uneven bars talent.
At the Doha stop of the Gymnastics World Cup earlier this year, the inexperienced He amazed the crowd with a high-difficulty routine and won her first world title. The nickname “Princess of the Uneven Bars” was born.
At the subsequent Cottbus World Cup, she again performed with rare difficulty, earning a remarkable 16.850 to claim the uneven bars gold. That performance quickly won her many admirers in Europe, and her “princess” aura only grew stronger.
Although she had competed only in World Cup events prior to the Olympics, young He already possessed a notably mature competitive mindset. She said:
“No matter what competition it is, every skill has to be practiced until I feel completely confident in it. As my coach says, as long as every movement is fully under your control, winning the championship won’t be a problem.”
何可欣当年竟被认为动作难看：只有倒过来时还行
人民网北京8月19日电 记者郑小龙报道：据何可欣的启蒙教练尚春燕介绍，1997年，她所在的东城区体校去当时雍和宫附近的一所幼儿园挑选苗子，当时才5岁的何可欣被她看中了 ，她认为小可欣个子不高，也不胖，符合初选体操运动员的标准。经过一段时间的训练，尚教练对何可欣的能力很认可，“可欣力量足，弹跳 好，爆发力也很强。”而何可欣对体操的热爱也让尚教练记忆犹新，她说即使发烧生病，何可欣也坚持让家长带她来训练。
正是凭着这样一股倔强，8岁时，何可欣被什刹海体校挑走了，两年之后她又进入了北京队。
不过从北京队到国家队的这一路，何可欣却走得很辛苦，并没有像之前那样一帆风顺。据国家体操队教练介绍，当时教练组去北京队选拔 人才，总觉得何可欣哪都是弯的，动作并不好看，但她倒过来时身体姿态还算可以，最终就凭着这一点，何可欣终于得以进入了国家队。
在国家队里，何可欣在高低杠上的天分很快显露出来，“脑子聪明、悟性好，学动作非常快。‘李娅空翻’仅仅学了两个月，就能独立完 成，训练任务总能超额完成。”教练刘桂成这样评价。这样训练刻苦又悟性极高的何可欣终于开始在国家队崭露头角，但是由于年纪小，直到 今年，刚满16岁的何可欣才终于能够站在国家赛场上展示自己绝佳的高低杠天分。
在今年年初的体操世界杯多哈站，初出茅庐的何可欣凭借一套高难度动作惊艳全场，也拿到了自己的首个世界冠军，“高低杠公主”名号 由此而生。随后的科特布斯体操世界杯，何可欣又以罕见的难度夺得罕见的16.850的高分摘得高低杠金牌，这一战也让她迅速在欧洲赢得了众 多的拥趸，公主气质越发迷人。
尽管只有过世界杯的参赛经验，但小小年纪的何可欣却拥有了相当老练的心理，她说：“不管什么比赛，每个动作都要练到自己心里踏实 了才可以。就像教练说的，只要每一个动作都掌握在自己手里，夺冠就没有问题。”
He Kexin Forced to Specialize in Uneven Bars, Once Learned the Li Ya Release at Astonishing Speed
August 19, 2008 — Beijing Times
After He Kexin — not considered a strong prospect — entered the national team, she began training harder than ever. But a foot injury gradually became a serious obstacle in the young teenager’s athletic career.Because the injury was relatively severe, He Kexin could no longer train on the balance beam, floor exercise, or other events. In order to extend her competitive lifespan, the coaching staff decided, somewhat experimentally, to have her focus on the uneven bars. He Kexin learned the highly difficult “Li Ya release” in just two months, prompting the coaches to see her in an entirely new light. But at the 2007 City Games, she made an error on the event. Afterward, she sat alone in the stands, silently watching the other competitors, refusing to eat or rest — as if punishing herself. She was more devastated than anyone had ever seen her.
For He Kexin, one or two failures meant only that more hard work was needed to make up the difference. At the 2008 Cottbus Gymnastics World Cup, she scored a remarkable 16.850 — reflecting rare difficulty — and claimed the uneven bars gold medal. After that, the young He Kexin earned the nickname “Princess of the Uneven Bars.” People said she could perform moves that drove audiences wild, and some called her the Chinese gymnastics team’s “secret weapon.”
何可欣被迫专攻高低杠 曾惊人速度学会李娅空翻
2008年08月19日 京华时报
当并不被看好的何可欣进入国家队以后，开始了更努力的训练。但是随之而来的脚伤问题，也逐渐成为这个十几岁小丫头运动生涯的难题。
由于伤势比较严重，何可欣无法再练习平衡木、自由体操等项目。为了延长何可欣的运动生命，教练组抱着试一试的心理让她主攻高低杠。何可欣两个月就学会了高难度的“李娅空翻”，让教练们对她刮目相看。但是在2007年城运会，何可欣在该项目上出现失误。当时，她独自一个人坐在看台上默默地看其他人比赛，不吃饭也不休息，好像在自我惩罚，前所未有地伤心。
对于何可欣来说，一两次的失败需要更努力的训练来弥补。2008年科特布斯体操世界杯，她以罕见的难度得到了16.850的高分，将高低杠金牌收入囊中。之后，年幼的何可欣便收获了一个“高低杠公主”的美誉。大家说她能表演让人疯狂的动作，也有人将她称为中国体操队的“秘密武器”。
Coach: He Kexin Is Kind and Gentle, Lovable — Never Throws a Temper Even When Disciplined
August 19, 2008
Source: Beijing TimesAs early as her time on the Beijing gymnastics team, He Kexin won over her coaches with her kind and honest character.
Once, a coach conducted a surprise inspection of the girls’ dormitory and found it messy. The coach ordered that the team members thoroughly clean the room before being allowed to go home. In the end, the others quietly slipped away, but only Kexin stayed behind and obediently completed all the cleaning herself.
When she entered the national team, He Kexin was only 14 years old. Everyone affectionately called her “Little Kexin.” Regarding weight control, she never caused her coaches concern — though at times she made them both worried and touched.
During an internal team test, coaches discovered that He Kexin had skipped lunch. She said eating enough at breakfast was sufficient. After her midday rest, she only ate a piece of chocolate.
“I knew she was afraid of gaining weight and feeling heavy during the afternoon competition,” a coach explained.
Even when facing criticism or discipline, He Kexin never lost her temper or became emotional. Instead, she would tell her coaches that she understood everything was for her own good, which greatly reassured them.
教练：何可欣善良敦厚惹人爱 面对责罚从不耍脾气
早在北京体操队时，何可欣就以她善良、敦厚的品性，赢得了教练们喜爱。当时，有教练突击检查女生宿舍，发现脏乱后，严令队员必须彻底收拾干净才能回家。结果大家都偷偷跑走了，只有可欣一个人乖乖地做完了所有的打扫。
进入国家队的时候，何可欣也不过14岁，大家亲切地称她小可心。在控制体重的问题上，小可心从来不让教练担心，有时还让她们既心疼又欣慰。在一次队内测试时，教练发现何可欣没吃午饭。她说早餐吃够了就行了。午觉起来，她只吃了块巧克力。“我知道她是怕长体重，下午比赛身子沉。”教练说，即使面对责罚，何可欣也从不耍脾气、闹情绪，还会告诉教练，她知道这都是为她好，让教练们宽心不已。
He Kexin — A Sprite Flying Between the Uneven Bars
By staff reporter Chai Hua
“Svetlana Khorkina is my idol. I love the beautiful, light movements she performs on the uneven bars.”
Today, sixteen-year-old He Kexin stood at the very same height as her idol—on the Olympic uneven bars gold-medal podium.
The uneven bars were once a traditional strength of Chinese women’s gymnastics. China’s first female world champion, Ma Yanhong, won her title on this apparatus. Later, Lu Li, Liu Xuan, and Mo Huilan all delivered unforgettable moments on the bars.
But after these stars retired, and as well-known gymnasts such as Li Ya gradually faded from competition for various reasons, China’s uneven bars program seemed to fall into a lull, lacking successors.
Just as fans began to feel regret, two young girls—He Kexin and Yang Yilin—suddenly brought fresh excitement. He Kexin in particular stunned observers by mastering the famous high-difficulty skill known as the “Li Ya somersault” in just two months. After winning the uneven bars title at the 2007 National Championships and being tempered through several major competitions, the sixteen-year-old He Kexin had already become China’s top uneven bars specialist. Together with Yang Yilin, and with a top-tier difficulty score of 7.7, they formed a “double insurance policy” for China’s Olympic gold ambitions.
In today’s final, He Kexin was the first to compete. Because she had made a mistake on her signature Li Ya somersault during the preliminaries, many could not help but feel nervous for her.
“Before going up today, I still felt a bit tense—my hands were even shaking,” He said afterward. “But I didn’t think about the gold medal. The more you think about gold, the more pressure you put on yourself. I didn’t dwell on past mistakes either. I just wanted to show everyone my most beautiful movements.”
With that relaxed mindset, the petite He Kexin flew like a sprite between the bars, darting lightly from one to the other in a smooth, uninterrupted routine. In her dismount, she launched herself into the air, tracing a full, rounded arc before landing perfectly.
16.725 points. As the first gymnast to perform, He Kexin posted an impressively high score.
American star Nastia Liukin, who competed afterward, also delivered an outstanding routine. With identical difficulty and equal execution, she received the same score as He Kexin. Ultimately, after recalculating the tie-break scores, He Kexin edged ahead by 0.1 points, narrowly defeating Liukin and safely securing China’s seventh gold medal of these Olympic Games.
Yang Yilin, who competed after He Kexin, also performed superbly. When Yang dismounted, the much smaller He Kexin ran over and actually lifted her up in a hug. Asked later about this “impulsive act,” the shy He Kexin smiled bashfully: “I thought she did really well too. We both represent China.”
(Beijing, August 18)
何可欣—— 高低杠上精灵飞
PLA Daily, published on August 19, 2008
“霍尔金娜是我的偶像，我喜欢她在高低杠上漂亮轻逸的动作”。今天，16岁的何可欣站在了和自己偶像一样的高度——奥运会高低杠项目的冠军领奖台。 高低杠项目一度是中国女子体操的强项，中国体操女队的第一个世界冠军就是由马艳红在高低杠项目上获得，随后陆莉、刘璇、莫慧兰等都给人们留下了许多惊艳的瞬间。 但在她们相继退役后，名将李娅等也因为各种原因逐渐淡出赛场，中国的高低杠项目似乎陷入了后继无人的状况。 就在人们感到惋惜时，何可欣和杨伊琳两名小姑娘的表现让人眼前一亮。特别是何可欣，仅用时两个月就成功上演了著名的高难度动作“李娅空翻”。继获得2007年全国锦标赛高低杠冠军后，经历了几次大赛的锤炼，年仅16岁的何可欣已成为中国体操女队高低杠第一人。她和杨伊琳以系数7.7的顶尖难度，成为中国女队冲击奥运金牌的双保险。 今天的决赛，何可欣第一个上场，因为预赛时在自己的拿手动作“李娅空翻”上出现失误，让人不由地为她捏上一把汗。 “今天上场之前自己感觉还是有些紧张，手都有点抖，不过自己没有想金牌的事，越想金牌压力只能越大，已经出现的失误也不会再去想，把自己最漂亮的动作展现给大家就可以了。” 正是带着这种轻松的心态，娇小的何可欣在高低杠间如精灵般飞来飞去，在两杠之间轻盈地窜上跃下，一气呵成。最后她在两杠之间凌空跃起，在空中划了道圆润的弧线，完美落地。 16.725分！第一个出场的何可欣就得到了一个相当高的分数。 但随后上场的美国名将柳金发挥同样出色。同样的难度，同样的完美，她与何可欣得到同样的分数。最终，因为再次计算小分后的0.1分优势，何可欣最终以微弱优势排在柳金之前，有惊无险地为中国体操队夺得本届奥运会第7枚金牌。 在何可欣之后出场的杨伊琳也出色完成了动作，她下杠后，个头小小的何可欣上去居然把她抱了起来。说到当时的“冲动之举”，腼腆的何可欣不好意思地笑了：“我觉得她做得也很好，我们都代表中国嘛。” （本报北京8月18日电）
Like a Swallow in Flight: He Kexin — Women’s Uneven Bars Gold Medalist
by Zhou Yongshan
Yesterday, you and your sisters
danced lightly together, fighting side by side,
creating wonders with brilliance,
donning at last the long-awaited
team gymnastics crown.Today, you fly alone,
facing a field crowded with the strong.
Will you still forge yesterday’s glory?The world’s gaze converges
on the two uneven bars before you.Flying—flying—from high bar to low,
our hearts stop beating, suspended for you.
Leaping—leaping—from low bar to high,
the sweat in our hands is gripped tight for you.An instant of silence freezes the vast arena.
A mistake in prelims leaves no shadow behind.
Going first does not make you timid or afraid.Like a swallow heralding spring,
you leap, you dart, you somersault—
light and fluid as drifting clouds and flowing water.When you land with agile certainty,
leaving the two horizontal lines
that moments ago were your playground,
unfurling hearts erupt into stormy celebration,
clenched fists transform into thunderous applause.A miracle is born in this moment.
He Kexin—
you sixteen-year-old girl from Beijing—
that gleaming gold medal
once again hangs upon your chest.Fly, lovely little swallow.
Mountains are high, waters long,
winds and rains unending.
Diligent sweat will nourish your strength;
the joy of success will accompany your flight.PLA Daily, published on August 21, 2008
如燕穿梭：何可欣——女子高低杠金牌获得者
■周永杉
昨天你和你的姐妹
还在翩翩起舞并肩作战
用精彩创造惊奇
戴上了期盼已久的团体操金冠
今天你单独放飞
面对强手如林的较量
你是否还会铸就昨日的辉煌
全世界的目光都聚焦在
你眼前的这两条高低杠上
翻飞翻飞从高杠到低杠
停跳的心啊为你悬着
腾跃腾跃从低杠到高杠
手中的汗啊为你攥着
瞬间的静寂凝固了万人场馆
预赛失误没有给你留下阴影
第一个上场没有让你胆怯心慌
你像一只报春的飞燕时而跳跃时而穿梭时而空翻
行云流水般地轻盈流畅
当你敏捷一跃稳稳着陆
脱离开你嬉戏的两条高低横线
舒展的心涌出风雨般的狂欢
紧攥的拳化作春雷般的鼓掌
奇迹在这一刻诞生了
何可欣呵
你这16岁的北京小姑娘
那一枚闪闪发光的金牌
又一次挂在了你的胸前
飞吧 可爱的小燕子
山高水长 风雨不断
勤奋的汗水会滋润你坚强
成功的喜悦将伴随你飞翔
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