Years of training, one shot at the WorldSkills stage. And, in the end, 13 gold medals. For Guangdong's WorldSkills competitors, the results were a payoff for years of dedication, discipline and the determination to keep pushing forward.
The province's competitors returned to Guangzhou on Sept. 28 after competing at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, bringing home 13 gold medals, one bronze medal and two Medallions for Excellence. Guangdong's gold medals accounted for nearly one-third of China's total at the competition.
But behind every medal is a different story.
For Li Zhuoping, gold medalist in CNC Milling, the competition came with enormous pressure. The competition was intensely competitive, with only narrow score gaps separating the participants. For him, staying ahead means never standing still. "If we don't keep moving forward, others will catch up," he said. In CNC Milling, skills that give one competitor an edge can quickly become common knowledge. That is why, Li said, competitors have to keep innovating from one competition to the next.
For Liao Junjie, gold medalist in CNC Turning, the road to WorldSkills began long before the competition itself. He prepared specifically for the competition for three years, but has been pursuing the skill for six years. His interest began with conventional lathes and a curiosity about how everyday mechanical components are made and work.
That curiosity gradually led him into CNC technology. Today, he still enjoys making things with machinery, sometimes using his own equipment to create objects that he can use in everyday life.
The gold medal, however, is not simply a prize for him. It marks the end of one chapter. "It means that a small chapter of my life has come to an end," Liao said. Now, he plans to continue deepening his expertise, while exploring and innovating new techniques and approaches.
For Du Meiting, who received a Medallion for Excellence in Graphic Design Technology, preparation meant long days of training—often from 8:30 a.m. until 10 or even 11:30 p.m. Her training followed the schedule of the WorldSkills competition itself, preparing her for the intensity of the real competition.
She first got into graphic design out of personal interest. Over time, she discovered how shapes, colors and lines could convey different compositions, moods and emotions.
But when problems arose during the competition, her challenge was not only to solve them within a tight deadline, but also to stay calm. "I would calm myself down and tell myself to keep going. I can do this," she said. Then she would start from the beginning, work through each step and keep her focus.
For these competitors, the medal represents far more than a moment on the podium. It is the result of countless hours spent practicing, refining techniques, solving problems and pushing themselves to improve.
And because each WorldSkills competitor can compete only once in their lifetime, there is no second chance to return to the same stage. For Guangdong's competitors, that one opportunity has now become a milestone—one that closes a chapter and opens the door to what comes next.
Reporter | Li Fangwang
Videographer | Li Fangwang, Chen Siyuan
Photos | Li Fangwang
