So here I stood, a good ten years later, with only one desire—to skate again.

Olympic Dreams 冰场梦

 

音频下载

By Stefanie Wass

邝献文 译

Colored disco lights flashed down from high atop the arena.

The ice, freshly ¹⁾Zamboni-clean, was a ²⁾slick, smooth ³⁾canvas awaiting the markings of spin circles and ⁴⁾edge lines.

Tightening my skate laces, I inhaled the familiar ice ⁵⁾rink aromas—an odd combination of ⁶⁾must, ⁷⁾stale snack bar popcorn, and sweaty hockey equipment.

Oh, how I had missed this place—the damp air, the creaky metal ⁸⁾bleachers, the feel of ⁹⁾blades pushing freely across the ice.

Strains of music from the loudspeaker signaled the beginning of the public session.

My throbbing feet gave me a painful reminder that it had been many years since I had last skated. But the fire in my gut was not to be put out by a (1)blister or two. As odd as it seemed, I had a burning desire to skate again.

It was crazy, I know. This thirty-seven-year-old mother of two wanting to skate circles under disco ball lights.

Perhaps my longing to skate had been ¹⁰⁾rekindled by the five colorful Olympic rings that had made their way onto the upper right hand corner of our TV screen. The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, were fast approaching and images of twirling ice princesses kept ¹¹⁾popping into broadcasts usually reserved for my husband’s favorite sports—football and hockey.

Figure skating, that rare combination of artistry and ¹²⁾athleticism, was ¹³⁾unabashedly being promoted in an attempt to draw a large television ¹⁴⁾viewership to the Games. With every commercial, every Olympic ¹⁵⁾fanfare song, I found an excitement growing within me.

“Did you hear that ［1］Michelle Kwan has another injury?”

“［2］Sasha sure looks beautiful. Now, if she can only skate a clean program at the Games...”

E-mails were sent to friends and relatives informing them of upcoming pre-Olympic skating competitions. Realizing that the National Figure Skating Championships were being broadcast on a Saturday evening, I quickly cancelled my usual date night with my husband. Smiling, my understanding ¹⁶⁾spouse just shook his head.

“Skating is your passion. Of course we can stay home.”

Olympic dreams start early, as mine had when I first took the ice on a Cleveland, Ohio, rink in the late seventies. Weekly skating lessons were ¹⁷⁾commonplace in the Midwest, where Saturday mornings were spent practicing two-foot glides and ¹⁸⁾snowplow stops. Never much of an athlete, I spent more than a few years in the basic skills program.

“Pick them UP!” my teacher would ¹⁹⁾holler as I stood paralyzed alongside the boards, afraid to move my feet. Despite my protests, Mom made me continue with lessons each week. I progressed into a ²⁰⁾juvenile skater, my passion for the sport far exceeding my athletic ²¹⁾prowess.

My ²²⁾Dorothy Hamill wedge haircut twirled as I “skated” in sock feet around our kitchen, spinning past the ²³⁾Peggy Fleming poster I had mounted on our refrigerator. I was a ‘teen with an Olympic dream’.

Although I would never become a world-class skater, a ticket to the Olympic figure skating finals ²⁴⁾solidified my lifelong love of the sport.

²⁵⁾Lake Placid was bitterly cold that winter of 1980, but Dad and I proudly made our way through the crowds into the Olympic Village for a whirlwind father-daughter ²⁶⁾getaway weekend. Feeling like the luckiest twelve-year-old on the planet, I stared in amazement at the Olympic tickets that I had been given for my birthday.

“The women’s finals. WOW!” I knew nothing of the U.S. Hockey team.  For me, these Games were all about figure skating. Fighting against the bitter cold, I tried to take it all in—the many varied languages spoken in the village, the trading of Olympic ²⁷⁾pins, the tasty ²⁸⁾strudels from far-away lands.

After watching ²⁹⁾Eric Heiden win his fifth speed skating gold medal, it was finally time for the main event, the women’s figure skating finals.

For the very first time, skating had hurt a very real part of my soul. The honeymoon was over. True love, even of sport, can sting.

Growing into the middle and high school years, skating for me meant before and after school practice sessions in a cold, often lonely, rink. Although I worked hard, ³⁰⁾more often than not I would return from local competitions empty-handed. While my friends brought home medals, I started a collection of fourth and fifth place consolation ribbons.

Yet, I loved to skate, especially to strains of classical music. So what if I two-footed a few jumps? I was out there having the time of my life, interpreting music with a smile on my face and in my heart.

So here I stood, a good ten years later, with only one desire—to skate again. Stroking around the rink in my old skates and blue jeans, I smiled as ice ³¹⁾pixies half my age skated circles around me.

A few ³²⁾wobbly spins later, my confidence seemed to grow. As cool air rushed across my face, the music pushed me forward into a spin.

Somewhat dizzy, yet still ³³⁾exhilarated, I boldly moved into a spread eagle. Untold joy crept into my heart with every push of my blades. I belonged here. It felt so right to be back on the ice.

“Did you used to be a skater?” A tiny girl in a blue ³⁴⁾rhinestone dress looked up at me with questioning eyes.

Taking time to form my response, I looked around the arena, where I could see so many years of lessons, Olympic dreams, and a love of the ice that I knew would never die.

“No”, I replied. “I am a skater.” With a smile, I glided away.

Skating had finally turned me into a champion—a winner of a lifelong passion for my beloved sport.

 

 

1) Zamboni [5zAmbEuni] n. (用以磨平溜冰场等表面的) 赞博尼磨冰机

2) slick [slik] adj. 光滑的

3) canvas [5kAnvEs] n. 帆布

4) edge 这里是指滑冰鞋下的冰刀

5) rink [riNk] n. 溜冰场，冰球场，室内溜冰场

6) must [mQst] n. 发霉

7) stale [steil] adj. 不新鲜的，陈腐的

8) bleachers [5bli:tFEs] n. <美> (运动场的) 露天看台

9) blade [bleid] n. 刀刃，刀片

10) rekindle [5ri:5kindl] v. 重新点燃

11) pop [pCp] v. 突然出现

12) athleticism [AW5letisizEm] n. 运动竞赛

13) unabashedly [5QnE5bAFtli] adv.不害羞地

14) viewership [5vjU:EFip] n. [总称]电视观众

15) fanfare [5fAnfZE] n. 喇叭或号角嘹亮的吹奏声

16) spouse [spauz] n. 配偶 (指夫或妻)

17) commonplace [5kCmEnpleis] n. 平凡的事

18) snowplow [5snEJplaJ] n. 雪犁，扫雪机

19) holler [5hClE] v. 大声叫喊

20) juvenile [5dVu:vinail] adj. 青少年的，幼稚的

21) prowess [5praJIs] n. 威力

22）Dorothy Hamill 桃乐茜·哈米尔，美国滑冰冠军

23) Peggy Fleming 美国花样滑冰运动的冰后

24) solidify [sE5lidifai] v. (使)凝固，(使)团结，巩固

25) Lake Placid 普莱西德湖，1980年的冬季奥运会在美国的纽约州Lake Placid举办

26) getaway [5^etE7wei] n. 逃亡，逃走

27) pin [pin] n. 小东西，小事

28) strudel [5stru:dl] n. 以果实或干酪为馅而烤成的点心

29) Eric Heiden 美国滑冰运动员，在1980年美国纽约州普莱西德湖举行的冬奥会上，取得5块个人金牌。

30) more often than not 时常

31）pixy [5piksi] n. 小鬼，小精灵，小淘气：

32) wobbly [5wCbli] adj. 摆动的，不稳定的

33) exhilarate [i^5zilEreit] v. 使高兴，使愉快

34) rhinestone [5rainstEJn] n. 水晶之一种，人造钻石

 

 

温馨提示

（1）blister 原意水泡、脓疱，在文章中并不是指真的起水泡，而是用它比喻伤痛在作者心里看来只是小事，与心中燃起的愿望相比不足挂齿。

 

小资料

［1］Michelle Kwan美国华裔选手关颖珊是蜚声海内外的著名女子花样滑冰运动员。1996年关颖珊在15岁时就夺得了第一个全美冠军和世界冠军，此前她还是1994年世界青年锦标赛冠军。关颖珊夺得了5次世界冠军、9次全美冠军、一次奥运亚军和一次奥运第三名。她是继克里斯蒂"山口连夺1991年和1992年单人滑世界冠军后又一个蝉联冠军的选手，她在2000年和2001年两度封后。此外，关颖珊还是自前东德花样滑冰皇后维特之后第二个拥有4个世界冠军头衔的女子单人滑运动员。但是在2006年冬奥会上，关颖珊成为花样滑冰比赛中最大的悲情人物。这位饱受伤病困扰的名将好不容易在争议声中争取到都灵冬奥会的参赛资格，却因伤临阵退出，引来一片叹息。

［2］Sasha（萨莎"科恩，1984年10月26日——），美国著名花样滑冰运动员。她在2006年冬季奥林匹克运动会中获得一枚银牌，在2004到2006年各获得一枚世界花样滑冰锦标赛奖牌。

 

 

 

五彩绚烂的迪斯科灯光从滑冰场顶部高高地倾泻下来。

刚刚用赞博尼磨冰机打理过的冰场像一块光滑平坦的帆布，等待着人们在上面留下旋转的圆环磨痕和冰刀的划痕。

绑紧冰鞋，我吸了一口气，溜冰场那熟悉的气味扑鼻而来——这是一种独特的气息，搀杂了发酵的气味、小吃店里出售的不新鲜的爆米花，以及被汗水浸湿的冰球装备的气味。

噢，我多么怀念这里的一切——潮湿的空气，陈旧的金属露天看台，还有冰刀自由自在地在冰面上滑过的感觉。

喇叭传来的音乐声告诉人们，可以开始在这里自由驰骋了。

我那仍隐隐作痛的双腿提醒我，我告别滑冰场已经很久了。但腿的小伤痛并不能把那团在我心底熊熊燃烧的烈火浇灭。说来有点不可思议，我竟有一股重返溜冰场的冲动。

我知道，这个念头过于疯狂了。一个37岁，已是两个孩子母亲的人，竟然想再次在迪斯科灯光下翩翩起舞！

也许，正是电视机屏幕右上角的五彩奥运五环重燃了我内心的渴望，渴望再次踏足滑冰场。2006年意大利都灵冬奥会已经日益临近，冰上公主旋转起舞的身影不断穿插出现在丈夫最喜欢的体育项目——橄榄球和冰球当中。

为了吸引更多的电视观众关注冬奥会，人们正不遗余力地宣传推广花样滑冰——这个艺术与竞技完美结合的运动项目。每次看到花样滑冰的宣传片，听到冬奥会主题曲，一股激动之情就在我心底涌起。

“你知道关颖珊又受伤了吗？”

“萨莎绝对是个大美女，但愿她在冬奥会花样滑冰上做出干净漂亮的表演……。”

亲朋好友们从电子邮件中获知了即将到来的冬奥会前的滑冰比赛的消息。得知星期六晚上电视将会现场直播全国花样滑冰锦标赛，我马上取消了和丈夫的例常约会。善解人意的他微笑着点头答应了。

“滑冰是你的至爱。我们待在家，当然没问题。”

奥运梦想很早就在我心中埋下了种子，那是在上世纪七十年代末，我在俄亥俄州的克利夫兰第一次踏上滑冰场。当时在美国中西部，每周的滑冰课算得上是家常便饭。每个星期六上午，我都练习双足滑行和雪犁刹车。虽然我一直没能成为一名滑冰运动员，但我的确是花了好几年时间苦练基本功。

“动起你的腿来！”当我一动不动地靠在栏杆扶手边，丝毫不敢移动双脚时，老师就会朝我怒吼。尽管我是一万个不情愿，妈妈还是坚持让我每周都去上课。到青少年时代，我的滑冰技艺大为长进，而对这项运动的热情却远远超过了我的天赋。

当我穿着短袜在厨房里“滑冰”时，我那与桃乐茜·哈米尔一样发型的头发就会跟着一起跳动；旋转着经过冰箱，那上面还贴着佩吉·弗莱明的海报。我是一个十足的“心怀奥运梦想的青少年”。

虽然我一直未能晋身世界级滑冰运动员的行列，但一张奥运会花样滑冰决赛的入场券，让我从此与这个项目结下了不解之缘。

1980年的冬天，普莱西德湖是出奇的寒冷，但我和爸爸自豪地挤过拥塞的人群，来到奥运村，度过一个疯狂、忘我的周末。我惊喜万分地呆看着我的生日礼物——一张冬奥会的入场券，感觉自己是世界上最幸运的12岁女孩。

“哇，女子决赛的票！”当时，我对美国冰球队一无所知。在我眼里，花样滑冰就是整个冬奥会的同义词。我已经完全忘却了刺骨的寒冷，极力消化眼前新鲜不已的一切——奥运村里的各国语言，人们在兜售的奥运会纪念品，还有让人垂涎欲滴的异国可口点心。

看过埃里克·海登获得他的第五枚速度滑冰金牌后，我心目中的重头戏——女子花样滑冰决赛——即将粉墨登场了。

平生以来第一次，滑冰竟深深地刺痛了我的心。热爱滑冰的蜜月期已经结束。真爱——哪怕是对体育执着的爱——也是会伤人的。

进入初中和高中后，对我来说，滑冰就是上学前后在冰冷——往往还是孤独冷清的冰场上的练习。虽然我很努力练习，但我总是一次次在当地的比赛中空手而归。我的朋友夺金挂银地回家，而我带回的总是第四或第五名这样无关紧要的安慰奖。

但我依然深爱着滑冰，尤其是当古典音乐悠扬地响起的时候。所以，如果我能做出几个双脚跳跃动作，那会是怎么样的呢？我的确做出过那样的动作，在那些一生永志难忘的时刻，我用发自心底绽放的笑容诠释了音乐。

时隔十多年，我又站在了这里，为的只是一个心愿——再次踏足滑冰场。穿着旧冰鞋和蓝色牛仔裤的我在冰上一圈圈地滑动。看着那些年纪只有我一半的小鬼在我身边穿来穿去，我不禁露出了一丝笑意。

开头几圈滑得有点生疏，但很快我的自信就开始恢复了。冰冷的空气拂过我的脸庞，音乐的旋律推着我向前在冰上旋转起来。

虽然有点眩晕，但我还是非常激动。这时我大胆地做了个“横一字”动作。冰刀的每一次滑动，都伴随有一种无法言语的喜悦在心底荡漾。我是属于冰场的！回来的感觉真好。

“你以前是滑冰运动员吗？”一个衣服上镶着蓝色水晶的小女孩抬头看我，一脸写满疑问。

在思付着怎么回答她的问题时，我环顾了这个滑冰场。我仿佛又看到了自己多年在这里练习的身影，不灭的奥林匹克梦想，还有对这块冰地的永恒热爱。

“不，”我回答说，“我现在依然是。”微笑着，我轻盈地滑开了。

滑冰最终让我登上了冠军之颠——为心爱的运动倾注一生的热情，我是个不折不扣的胜者！

 

 

 

相关链接

1908年第4届夏季奥运会上增加了花样滑冰项目。1920年第7届夏季奥运会上，国际奥委会拒绝接受北欧两项项目，而增加了冰球项目。花样滑冰和冰球加入奥运会后引起了观众的极大兴趣，但因天气条件给组织者带来诸多不便，尽管这两个项目都提前在4月份进行，但大多数比赛和奥运会的开幕式在8月中旬才举行。这使得一届奥运会要长达5个月的时间，在人力、物力上耗费太大。鉴于此，人们倾向于把冰雪项目从奥运会中分离出来，单独进行冰雪项目的奥运会。

正式的冬季奥林匹克运动会始于1924年。当时，在法国的夏蒙尼市承办了当时被称为“冬季运动周”的运动会，两年后国际奥委会正式将其更名为第1届冬季奥林匹克运动会。

冬季奥运会最初规定每4年举行一次，与夏季奥运会在同年和同一国家举行。从1928年的第2届冬奥会开始，冬季奥运会与夏季奥运会的举办地点改在不同的国家举行。1994年起，冬奥会与夏奥会以2年为相隔交叉举行。为将冬奥会与夏奥会时间错开，故只有1992年冬奥会与1994年冬奥会相隔2年。