Girls with Grit: Beijing Girls Tell Us About Their Favorite Sports

Liu Ruiqi

My name is Liu Ruiqi (Rachel). I am seven and a half years old and attend Yu Ying School. I have been riding horses since I was three and a half; equestrian is my favorite sport. When the horse gallops very fast, I can feel the wind blowing on my face, through my hair and it feels like flying. When the horse and I try to hop over the wood bars on the ground, the horse sometimes almost ignores the bars, but when we make it across, I’m very happy and I can tell the horse is happy too. I would like to become a professional horse rider someday.

Katherine Wang

I am Katherine and I am 9 years old. I attend Dulwich College Beijing. My favorite sport is taekwondo. Taekwondo is really fun and I enjoy doing it with my brother. I started practicing a year ago. The most exciting thing during taekwondo practice is when I do something I thought I couldn’t do. I will continue taekwondo for as long as possible but I have different dreams such as becoming a music teacher. I want to teach little kids how to play music because I am also a great violinist.

Calista James Shepheard

My name is Calista James Shepheard and I am 14 years old. I attend Harrow and study ballet, jazz and tap at On Pointe Dance Studio. Ballet is my athletic and artistic outlet. Dance in general, and ballet specifically, allows me to be a performer, athlete, creator, and teammate all at the same time. I don’t just dance, I am a dancer, and it’s who I am as much as what I do. I took my first dance class at 3 years old – it was more like ‘playtime’ at a dance studio. My classes now at On Pointe are much more structured; I wish I could have started at On Pointe when I was little. This past August, I came in third overall in my age category at the Asian Grand Prix. The Asian Grand Prix is the largest classical ballet competition in Asia, held annually in Hong Kong. My dream is to be a principal dancer or ballet mistress at the Royal Ballet in London. I also love chemistry and would enjoy studying this subject in University while pursuing my ballet dreams.

Julia Seidel

I am Julia Seidel and I am 10 years old, I attend the British School of Beijing in Shunyi.
I chose soccer because I like running and being outside and I get to play in a team. My friends in Beijing play as well. My brother and I have played soccer with other children on the beach in South Africa, and with our friends in Australia and Germany. It’s a universal game, enjoyed all over the world. I have been playing soccer since I was eight years old, and was chosen to play with the U12 girl’s team at BSB this year (and so far we are undefeated!). I don’t want to be a professional soccer player, and right now I see my future in agriculture.

Photos: Dave’s Studio, Uni You, Chi Hong