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Agence France-Presse

World junior figure skating champion Vincent Zhou makes his senior Grand Prix debut in five weeks in Beijing, where he starts making his case for a Winter Olympic debut at Pyeongchang.
The Chinese-American makes his top-level debut just nine days after his 17th birthday, at the Cup of China on November 3.
Zhou already has a fan club waiting to applaud him in China, with his mother, Fay Ge, helping stir excitement from her son’s online followers.
“They are organising a cheering section for me. My mom is involved in some fan groups for me,” Zhou said. “My mom told me that a lot of people from China will be cheering for me.

“And my grandparents will be there. There’s going to be a lot of extra pressure for me to deal with.”
Zhou isn’t shy about admitting he is nervous every time he takes the ice, but he says he’s ready for the mental challenge.
“It takes a lot of mental strength to be able to manage those things,” Zhou said.
“Despite my age, I think I’m well prepared. My team has given me great mental strength.”
Zhou, runner-up to Chinese-American pal Nathan Chen in last year’s US championships, won the world junior crown in March at Taiwan, the best free skate scores of his career lifting him from fifth after the short programme.
And he could wind up back in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics, although he says: “I can’t imagine what that’s going to be like.”

“If I stay healthy and keep progressing, I hope I’ll be one of the top skaters going into those Olympics,” Zhou said.
“But I haven’t thought too much about that. For now, I’m concentrating on 2018. I’m living my dream now.”
Making a quick transition to the elite competition level is crucial to that dream.
“I know I have a tonne of stuff to learn, a tonne of experiences to have,” Zhou said.
“China and France are going to be a great learning experience. I feel like I can win these things, but I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work and I’m looking forward to these experiences.”
The US Olympic trials are in January, but a panel selects qualifiers after the meet.
“All I can do is skate my best and hope I can find my way onto the team,” Zhou said.
Zhou landed his first quad salchow at age 14 and three others at 15.

“It has [taken a toll on my body] but at this level, it’s important to mitigate those things,” he said.
Zhou says landing a quad in the last third of his programme is the toughest feat.
“Imagine trying to do a quad near the end of an 800-metre sprint,” he said. “That’s what it’s like.”
The son of computer software engineers who immigrated to California in the 1990s has an older sister who went to MIT university. Zhou finished high school this year in an online programme and is pondering business school, but wants to stay near his Colorado training base.
“I was the youngest one in my class and learning on my own,” he said. “Learning by myself was very difficult and cost me a lot of sleep. I’m glad I made it through.
“The destination isn’t worth it if the journey isn’t difficult.”
Pyeongchang is his destination, but blocking his path is Chen, who Zhou said could unleash seven quads if he wants, a fact Zhou doesn’t see as intimidating.
“Thinking about the number of quads someone else can do isn’t going to change the number of quads I can do,” Zhou said.


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Chinese-American junior figure skating world champion Vincent Zhou ready to wow ‘home’ fans in Beijing

Vincent Zhou poses for a portrait at the US Olympic Committee Media Summit in Park City, Utah. Photo: Reuters

PARK CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 26: Figure Skater Vincent Zhou poses for a portrait during the Team USA Media Summit ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 26, 2017 in Park City, Utah. Ron Jenkins/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

PARK CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 26: Figure Skater Vincent Zhou poses for a portrait during the Team USA Media Summit ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 26, 2017 in Park City, Utah. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

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Claire Liu of the United States, center, celebrates with the trophy after beating compatriot Ann Li to win the Girls' Singles final match on day twelve at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Saturday, July 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)

Claire Liu of the United States celebrates after beating compatriot Ann Li to win the Girls' Singles final match on day twelve at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Saturday, July 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)

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Teenage sensation will have a loud cheering section at Grand Prix event, with his grandparents leading the way


Chinese-American junior figure skating world champion Vincent Zhou ready to wow ‘home’ fans in Beijing

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Teenage sensation will have a loud cheering section at Grand Prix event, with his grandparents leading the way

Teenage sensation will have a loud cheering section at Grand Prix event, with his grandparents leading the way