China’s Lin Guo: “Back to practice after 60 days of quarantine felt like life started again”

The ISF continues its series of ISF Girl Power stories, and this week we will take you to Guangzhou, China, where 20-year-old Lin Guo is training as a professional swimmer and attending university. She is an experienced athlete, having participated in two ISF events: ISF World School Championships in Budapest in 2017 and the following year at ISF Gymnasiade in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Just like the rest of the world, Lin Guo’s home city was affected by Coronavirus. She and her family had to go into home quarantine, and all swimming pools across the country were shut down. She admits it was very hard to stay at home, it was the very first time in her life with such a long break from practice.

“For me, it was very hard to stay at home for so long. I still found a way to practice in my home: I ran on a treadmill, did core exercises and body jumps. I missed my teammates, but I used video chats to stay in touch with them.”

She smiles, when she talks about her first practice after quarantine,

“Returning to practice after sixty days of quarantine felt like life started again. I almost forgot the feeling of swimming in the water during the last two months. My coach had to adjust the training system for us because of this big break. It was nice to see all my teammates and coach again.”

Remembering feeling of the water made Lin think of her first swimming lesson in childhood,

“When I was little, I was constantly sick, always going to hospital and taking medicine. My mother thought that I could try sports to empower my immune system. She was right: just after a week of practice, at the of five I learned a perfect breaststroke. My coach saw talent in me right away.”

She admits that the best thing about doing sports is travelling and meeting friends from all over the world,

“With the opportunities to go abroad and participating at ISF events, I get to learn more about the culture of other countries, exploring how they do their training and improve my own performance by this. My favorite ISF memory was three years ago at the closing ceremony at WSC Swimming in Budapest. Everyone was so relaxed after competition, and just danced together.”

The highlight of her athletic career, however, was Gymnasiade in Morocco in 2018.

“Swimming competitions were not directly in the city of Marrakesh, they took place in breath-taking Casablanca. Being the captain of the team, I was very nervous to represent China at this big event, and was proud to have made it to the finals. After competitions, we went to the market and bought authentic wooden jewelry boxes. I also made friends from Brazil and Hong Kong, even after two years I am in touch with them on social media.”

Lin Guo addressed all athletes in the world, especially in the countries where the virus just started spreading and they will be no possibility to attend regular practices due to ongoing quarantine,

“All the countries today are connected and we have to act together if we tackle this challenge. After Chinese population listened to our government’s instructions and stayed at home, things are coming back to normal again. It is important to find creative ways to exercise at home. We should never give up.”

Lin Guo also talked about her idol: Hungary’s three-time Olympic Champion Katinka Hosszu.

“I admire her, because she is so fast! In every event. I met her in a pool in Guangzhou once, she gave me her autograph and we took a picture together.”

The young swimmer admits she feels proud about ISF Gymnasiade taking place in her home country, “Some students from my former school will participate in Jinjiang. I wish them good luck!”