In October 2023, the men’s 3,000-meter roller-skating relay final at the Asian Games was held in Hangzhou, China. The race was intense, and as the leading skater approached the finish line, he raised his arms in celebration, certain of victory. In that fleeting moment, however, Skater A, pressing hard from behind, lunged forward with his foot and crossed the line first. A video review confirmed the astonishing outcome: the gold medal went to Skater A’s team by a mere 0.01 seconds.
Only days after returning home, the hero of that dramatic comeback, Skater A, competed in the national championships. Riding the momentum of his Asian Games triumph, he raced with confidence. As he neared the finish line, he clenched his fist in celebration, certain of another victory. But at that very moment, the skater behind him thrust his foot forward, and the footage revealed the competitor’s foot crossing the finish line first. By a mere 0.03 seconds, Skater A lost the gold—struck by the cruelest irony, defeated in the very same way he had once won.
If you never give up, there will always be a chance to turn things around. If you stay focused and determined, you can give your best until the very end. And when you reach the finish line, having poured out every last ounce of strength, you’ll cross it with no regrets.
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