China's Olympic Swimming Champion Inspires Keystone Students to Love the Sport

BEIJING, March 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- "Winning or losing is not important. You have to focus on the present and do the best you can. If you give it your all, odds are, you will win." In a world where the ends often justify the means, it was refreshing to hear an Olympic record holder and world swimming champion, Jiao Liuyang, inspire and motivate students to think beyond just the result. The Olympic gold medalist was the latest guest speaker in Beijing Keystone Academy's Inspiration Series.

"The process matters," reiterated Jiao as she recounted how she trains and practices as a professional swimmer. Each training session lasts the length of 10,000m, which is about three hours. "I assess each stroke I make as I am making them. I compare each stroke with the next and every lap too. This focus on the process, on what I am doing, is what helped me to break the Olympic record and win the 2012 championship because I focused on the process and not the end-result." And this is not easy, she reminds students. If you want to live your dream and achieve it, you have to face difficulties and losses, and overcome them. The audience of close to 200 people applauded her sincere responses and dedicated approach. "Jiao makes us all aim high. She is a fine example of how humility and hard work lead to the highest achievements. What a motivation for our students!" said Head of School, Malcolm McKenzie. Following the brief interaction, students, especially the Keystone swim team, were thrilled to be able to learn a few practical tips from the champ. Jiao Liuyang was in her element when she dived into the school swimming pool and demonstrated her winning stroke. The swim team then gathered around her and listened intently as she shared tips on doing what they love, better.

The Inspiration Series

Keystone Academy strives to invite experts and top professionals in their field of work giving students the opportunity to interact and be inspired to dream and live their dream. Students have had several such opportunities in this academic year alone through the Keystone Inspiration Series, such as the performance by renowned cellist Feng Yao, lectures by Chinese educator and scholar Li Jiasheng, speech by Physical Chemist and President of one of the top Liberal Arts colleges in the U.S., Pomona College's Dr. David Oxtoby, and others. The success of each guest in the Keystone Inspiration Series has been their daring to dream, their determination despite difficulties and their dedication and perseverance in everything they do. These qualities are equally fundamental to Keystone's education model that combines the best of three teaching and learning traditions -- Chinese, American and international. As Director of Activities, Derek Davies, says, "It is important for young children to see, hear and interact with people of such high caliber and talent. These are not people just on the other side of a television; they are real. And meeting them makes it real, and makes children's dreams real and achievable."

About Keystone Academy: Keystone Academy is a non-profit, philanthropic educational venture governed by a board of trustees. The school blends distinctive traditions in eastern, western, and international education, creating a "new world school" that is academically outstanding and a new model of education in China. At Keystone, we embrace a world that is dynamic and ever changing. We learn from and we learn for this enterprising, global community.

www.keystoneacademy.cn

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