Xu Lijia started her sporting life as a swimmer at age 6, but switched to sailing four years later.

"It was fascinating when I was first introduced to sailing. It was so much fun sailing on the ocean, compared with swimming back and forth in a small pool," she said.

After winning several world championships, in 2002 she was forced to take six months away from the sport after surgery to remove a tumor on her left thighbone. The hiatus made her realize how much she loves sailing. "During the break, I found myself missing sailing every day. I can't live without it," she said. "I love being free on the ocean."

The recovery period gave Xu extra time to learn English. "Once I decided to dedicate my life to sailing, learning English was the first thing I needed to do," she said.

The sport originated in Western countries, according to Xu, so learning English not only helped to improve her race performances, but also allowed her to enjoy the Western culture associated with the sailing.

"I like Western food. I hang out with foreign competitors and enjoy traveling in foreign countries," she said. "My English skills help me to enjoy sailing as a part of my life."

pengyining@chinadaily.com.cn