Zhu Yi of China reacts during the figure skating women single skating short program at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, February 15, 2022. Photo: Xinhua/Cao Can

After going through major falls and mistakes at the ice rink, naturalized figure skater Zhu Yi of Team China finally smiled in front of the camera as she finished her short program on Tuesday after gaining warmhearted encouragement from many. At the post-game interview, Zhu said she does not regret representing China at the Beijing Winter Olympics and that she is proud to be Chinese.

Zhu Yi ranked 27 at the women's single skating short program with a score of 53.44 on Tuesday at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Although she failed to advance to Thursday's free skating round, she gained support from many.

"Today, I just remind myself to enjoy the Games," Zhu said in an interview after the competition.

"I was quite dissatisfied with myself before and it was a bit shameful, but when I heard the support and encouragement, I was especially grateful to them," Zhu said, adding that "in the Team [China], [Chinese skater] Jin Boyang made me laugh. He's such an interesting person and the rest of the teammates all cheered for me before the competition."

She thanked China and the US for all the support, saying that "both countries have a lot of advantages and I should make good use of them. I can speak both Chinese and English, while of course my Chinese still needs improvement. I have only been back to China for one year. I am proud to be a Chinese."

On Tuesday's competition, 24 skaters advanced to the next free skating round, with Kamila Valieva and Anna Shcherbakova, both from the Russian Olympic Committee, occupying the first two places.

Zhu fell several times during her performance at the early stage of the Beijing 2022. 

The 19-year-old skater finally smiled in front of the camera after her performance on Tuesday. The hashtag "Zhu Yi smiles" immediately trended on Chinese social media Sina Weibo, right after the competition with over 30 million views within two hours.

"It feels good to watch Zhu Yi smile after her performance. I really hope she can continue to make progress for Team China with a better state of mind," said one netizen.

The previous performance with constant falls and mistakes was too much for Zhu who cried in the middle of her routine and after the competition. She fell twice in the women's free skate on February 7 after failing in her debut the previous day when she crashed into the wall at one point.

"I just felt very emotional and could not stop crying," Zhu noted after her previous competition.

Right after her Olympic falls, US media outlet, Insider, posted on Instagram a photo of Zhu burying her face while crying after she delivered her performance, with the caption "Figure skater Zhu Yi gave up her US citizenship to compete for China. Now, she's being attacked by Chinese social-media users after falling in her Olympic debut." 

Similar posts have also appeared in many Western media, including CNN and BBC, challenging the relations between fans and athletes and questioning Zhu's disappointing performance in the days following her debut. 

However, the slur from the media have brought Team China closer, with athletes like Gu Ailing and Chen Hongyi speaking up for her on social media.

Gu posted that "as someone who actually uses Chinese social platforms, I am going to say right here that over 90 percent of comments are positive and uplifting. It is part of the sport and everyone understands that."

"She is a great person and skating is incredible!" Gu added.

Meanwhile, Chen posted on social media that "there is huge uncertainty during each competition. Zhu has done a good job in her Olympic debut." 

Born in Los Angeles, Zhu returned to China in 2019 after winning the women's title in the novice division at the 2018 US Figure Skating Championships.