Jingkids Teen Correspondent Rosa Crocetti at the Winter Olympics

The Beijing Winter Olympic Games 2022 is drawing to a close and we’ve seen some history being made right before our very eyes in the city we live in – how exciting is that! While it’s a great pity that the pandemic cost many of us the opportunity to watch the competitions in person, a select few individuals were lucky enough to receive invites. One such lucky individual was Jingkids teen correspondent Rosa Mary Crocetti, who attended the ice hockey quarterfinals that pitted the US against Slovakia. Watch the video below to see Rosa at the scene!

Crocetti also shared with us that when she hears “Olympics,” she thinks of “sports celebrities with terrific sportsmanship.” The 9-year-old from British School of Beijing, Sanlitun sees a future for herself in playing a sport professionally in front of a crowd like in the Olympics. You go, girl!

While Jingkids editor Julie Wolf shared some great lessons from the Olympic Games last year, so far, some of my Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics takeaways are…

1. Beijing’s winters are truly harsh

What sweet validation I felt when I read that not one, not two, but several athletes have been complaining about the frigid temperatures Beijing’s winter brings. Headlines such as “Olympic skiers are complaining of dangerously cold conditions in Beijing with subzero windchills pushing athletes to the brink of collapse” say it all. If even these human beings in their peak physical condition get the chills, no wonder I’m freezing the minute I step outside.

2. Social media brings out the best and worst in people

There’s no doubt that seeing the online trolls blast Chinese ice skater Zhu Yi for her falls during the ice skating team event was disheartening, but thankfully, upstanding members of the online community came to her defense, restoring our faith in humanity. Shake it off, Zhu Yi, and show us what you’re really made of!

3. Quarantine messes with your head, literally

It has not been a great time for Norwegian skier Jarl Magnus Riiber. Not only did he test positive for Covid but he also had to spend two weeks in isolated quarantine instead of training, so it’s no surprise that when he finally competed in the biathlon on Monday, his “body was not working.” As a result, he took a wrong turn during the 10km combined event, costing him his 44-second lead and ultimately landing him in eighth place. Poor guy.

4. Listen to your mother

Golden girl and China’s current favorite Asian-American athlete Eileen Gu revealed that speaking to her mom and listening to her advice before competing in the Freeski slopestyle final helped her to win her second medal at Beijing 2022. See kids, mother or father knows best.