THIS was his first time to the top of Mount Qomolangma, but it probably won't be his last.
On May 8, Huang Chungui, a junior at China Agriculture University (CAU), and four other torchbearers carried the Olympic flame for the first time in history to the top of the world, Mount Qomolangma (8,844 meters).
"I was so excited at that moment that I climbed up quickly. But I was also a little bit nervous. I really had to pay attention to my footing in order to avoid falling over. It was not hard for me, maybe because I am young," Huang told 21st Century.
He answered his phone at the base camp, 5,200 meters above sea level. Gusts of wind blew into the phone's mouthpiece. "I have not slept well for several nights, I'm really tired," said the 22-year-old.
Humble beginning
Huang's from Tengcong, a small village in Yunnan Province. His family is so poor that he could not afford to take the Beijing subway during the first half of his freshman year in 2005. He eventually did during the Spring Festival: "My friend and I made it a date to take the subway to celebrate the Lunar New Year," said Huang.
Around that same time, Huang got his first sight of snow. "When I saw the first feathery flakes of a snow shower in January 2005, I decided to be a follower of the snow," said Huang.
This love for snow led him to mountaineering. He joined the Fengyun Climbing Club on his campus and, by May, was climbing up Siguniang Mountain in Sichuan Province. "I touched the snow on the mountain for the first time. It was deep and thick; it felt so good," he said.
Ever since then, Huang has continued to climb. He became the captain of the climbing team in May 2006 and conquered Tibet's Mount Cho Oyo (8,201 meters) in September 2006. As a result of this experience, he was chosen to be one of the 31 candidates under consideration for carrying the torch to the roof of the world.
He had prepared for this chance for two years. "I had to run at least 8,000 meters a day, and do lots of sit-ups and pull-ups. So when I knew I had been chosen, I was not actually very happy," said Huang.
Although he trained hard, he never imagined he'd be named one of the five to carry the torch. "When we were all on the mountain, near the peak, the captain, Wang Yongfeng, shouted my name, so I knew it was me," said Huang. "It was my turn."
He thinks he was probably chosen for his explosive strength and youth. He was very excited: "I had to remind myself to calm down: All I need to do is pass the flame to the final torchbearer, Ciren Wangmu, an ethnic Tibetan woman."
Mission complete
But then came the pressure. "I cannot make any mistake, otherwise everything will be ruined," he recalled thinking.
In the end, he completed his mission, became the focus of media attention, and an idol for students. "It was really the proudest moment in my life," Huang said.
"The torch is a symbol of love. Whatever we do –teaching in poor areas, or carrying the torch – we need to do it together. We need people to display an abundance of love and stand side by side."
On May 8, Huang Chungui, a junior at China Agriculture University (CAU), and four other torchbearers carried the Olympic flame for the first time in history to the top of the world, Mount Qomolangma (8,844 meters).
"I was so excited at that moment that I climbed up quickly. But I was also a little bit nervous. I really had to pay attention to my footing in order to avoid falling over. It was not hard for me, maybe because I am young," Huang told 21st Century.
He answered his phone at the base camp, 5,200 meters above sea level. Gusts of wind blew into the phone's mouthpiece. "I have not slept well for several nights, I'm really tired," said the 22-year-old.
Humble beginning
Huang's from Tengcong, a small village in Yunnan Province. His family is so poor that he could not afford to take the Beijing subway during the first half of his freshman year in 2005. He eventually did during the Spring Festival: "My friend and I made it a date to take the subway to celebrate the Lunar New Year," said Huang.
Around that same time, Huang got his first sight of snow. "When I saw the first feathery flakes of a snow shower in January 2005, I decided to be a follower of the snow," said Huang.
This love for snow led him to mountaineering. He joined the Fengyun Climbing Club on his campus and, by May, was climbing up Siguniang Mountain in Sichuan Province. "I touched the snow on the mountain for the first time. It was deep and thick; it felt so good," he said.
Ever since then, Huang has continued to climb. He became the captain of the climbing team in May 2006 and conquered Tibet's Mount Cho Oyo (8,201 meters) in September 2006. As a result of this experience, he was chosen to be one of the 31 candidates under consideration for carrying the torch to the roof of the world.
He had prepared for this chance for two years. "I had to run at least 8,000 meters a day, and do lots of sit-ups and pull-ups. So when I knew I had been chosen, I was not actually very happy," said Huang.
Although he trained hard, he never imagined he'd be named one of the five to carry the torch. "When we were all on the mountain, near the peak, the captain, Wang Yongfeng, shouted my name, so I knew it was me," said Huang. "It was my turn."
He thinks he was probably chosen for his explosive strength and youth. He was very excited: "I had to remind myself to calm down: All I need to do is pass the flame to the final torchbearer, Ciren Wangmu, an ethnic Tibetan woman."
Mission complete
But then came the pressure. "I cannot make any mistake, otherwise everything will be ruined," he recalled thinking.
In the end, he completed his mission, became the focus of media attention, and an idol for students. "It was really the proudest moment in my life," Huang said.
"The torch is a symbol of love. Whatever we do –teaching in poor areas, or carrying the torch – we need to do it together. We need people to display an abundance of love and stand side by side."