【朗读者海外精英】014期《近看栾菊杰》


《近看栾菊杰》卷首语

文/译: 尚佳莉

一代体育名将,栾菊杰的名字曾经在中国家喻户晓

1978年,正值中国改革开放之处,20岁的她在曼谷亚运会上赢得了女子击剑冠军,并获得“东方第一剑”的美誉。自那以后,栾菊杰一路过关斩将,获奖无数,并在1984年的第23届洛杉矶奥运会夺得女子花剑冠军,这也是亚洲在奥运会上获取的第一枚击剑金牌。在此之前,世界剑坛一直是欧洲人的一统天下。栾菊杰在世界大赛中的精彩表现和她那永不言败的进取精神,激励了一代又一代的体育健儿,为中国击剑事业的蓬勃发展奠定了稳固的基础。

退役之后,栾菊杰结婚生子,移民加拿大,慢慢淡出了公众的视线。但是作为一代精英,栾菊杰从没有停止创造新的辉煌。2008年,50岁的栾菊杰代表加拿大队参加了在北京举办的第29界奥运会,她在比赛结束后高举“祖国好”的横幅向观众致敬。五环旗下,一捧赤子之心,栾菊杰又一次赢得了祖国观众的掌声和爱戴。

栾菊杰不愧为一代传奇,岁月的流逝和年龄的增长丝毫没有冲淡她的斗志。2018年,60岁的栾菊杰在意大利一举夺得世界击剑锦标赛元老组花剑冠军和重剑亚军,再次“扬眉剑出鞘“。赛场上,栾菊杰是一名成功的战将。赛场外,她是一名教育家,已经在埃德蒙顿市的非盈利击剑俱乐部执教30年,培养了一批又一批的获奖运动员。而栾菊杰的贡献也为她赢得了当地市民的认可和表彰,2008年她上榜爱德蒙顿市名人堂,照片和简历永久地挂在市政厅的名人墙上。

是金子就不会停止发光,栾菊杰依然延续着她的传奇。如果您想了解更多有关栾菊杰的生活点滴,请阅读今天的《朗读者》为您奉送的《近看栾菊杰》。

Preamble to 

“A Closer Look at Luan Jujie”

by/tr.:Jiali Shang 近看栾菊杰英文

Luan Jujie was once a household name in China

Luan Jujie was once a household name in China. In 1978, at the beginning of reform and opening up in China, 20-year-old Luan Jujie won the women’s fencing championship at the Bangkok Asian Games, which had earned her the reputation of “the first sword of the East”. Since then, Luan Jujie has won numerous awards, and the highlight was winning the Women’s Foil Championship at the 23rd Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. This was also the first fencing gold medal won by Asia in the Olympics. Prior to this, the world of swordsmanship had always been dominated by the Europeans. Luan Jujie’s outstanding performance in the world championships and her never-say-fail spirit have inspired generations of athletes and helped laying a solid foundation for China’s long-lasting prosperity in the sport of fencing.

After retiring, Luan Jujie got married, had children, and immigrated to Canada, slowly fading out of public life. But as an elite sportswoman, Luan Jujie has never stopped creating new glories. In 2008, 50-year-old Luan Jujie participated in the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing on behalf of the Canadian team. After the competition, she held up the banner of “Hello Motherland” to salute the Chinese audiences. Under the Olympic flags, Luan Jujie once again won the applause and love of the audience in the motherland.

Luan Jujie is worthy of being a legend. The passing years and the growth of age have not diminished her fighting spirit in the slightest. In 2018, 60-year-old Luan Jujie won once again the foil champion and the silver medal of the epee in the veteran division of the World Fencing Championships in Italy. On the sports field, Luan Jujie is a successful warrior. Outside the arena, she is a passionate educator. She has coached in Edmonton’s non-profit fencing club in Canada for over 30 years and has trained numerous award-winning athletes. Luan Jujie’s contribution has won her recognition from the local citizens. In 2008, she was listed in the Edmonton Hall of Fame, and her photo and biography are permanently hung on the wall of celebrities in Edmonton’s City Hall.

Like real gold never stops shining, Luan Jujie is still continuing her legend. If you would like to know more about Luan Jujie’s life stories, please tune in to today’s “Reciter” on “A Closer Look at Luan Jujie”.

近看栾菊杰

文/嘉妮 李玉真

译/尚佳莉

“嘉妮,很高兴又听到你的声音!”在2018年10月的意大利“世界元老级击剑比赛”中,60岁的栾菊杰获得女子花剑冠军及重剑亚军。在里窝那的颁奖现场,栾菊杰给我打来了电话。从第一次获奖到现在,已整整40年,栾菊杰仍宝剑不老。

1978年3月,20岁的栾菊杰在西班牙马德里举行的 “第29届世界青年击剑锦标赛” 上成为夺得亚军的亚洲第一人,为祖国、为亚洲争得了荣誉,被誉为 “亚洲第一剑” 。作家理由的报告文学《扬眉剑出鞘》讲述了她血战赛场的拼搏精神,在全国引起轰动。之后,她一直在拼搏,一个个世界级的奖牌让她的人生足迹闪耀着光辉:1978年12月,在曼谷举行的亚运会上赢得冠军,被誉为 “东方第一剑” ;1981年,在法国克莱蒙费朗举行的世界锦标赛夺得亚军;1983年,在德国莱比锡举行的第六届国际女子花剑比赛中赢得冠军;1984年,在美国洛杉矶举办的奥运会上夺得女子花剑冠军,成为亚洲夺得击剑奥运冠军的第一人,获得了 “天下第一剑” 的美誉;1985年,在日本神户举行的第十三届世界大学生运动会上赢得冠军;1986年,在芝加哥国际击剑赛上获得女子花剑冠军。

栾菊杰没有躺在鲜花烂漫的花丛中,而是在赞美的掌声中悄然隐退,默默地转身去找寻另一个梦想:立志到国际剑联争取一席之地,要当一名公正的国际裁判,用另一种方式,为中国的击剑事业继续出力。1989年,她退役来到加拿大。

第一次拜访栾菊杰,是在2008年夏天的加拿大埃德蒙顿,由她的干爹曹先生开车带我去的。栾菊杰与曹先生的相识,缘于体育代表团团长李富荣的介绍。1983年7月,第十二届世界大学生运动会,在风和日丽的加拿大埃德蒙顿举行。那时,曹先生是一位摄影师,他为栾菊杰拍了照片后,互留地址通信。随后几年,几百封的通信,无数次电话的连接,将他们的感情升华为父女亲情。她当初决定到加拿大埃德蒙顿,也是因为这里有干爹曹先生全家。近80岁的曹先生一提起菊杰,就笑逐颜开地说个没完:“菊杰是中国的骄傲,是加拿大的骄傲,是他们全家的骄傲,当然也是我的骄傲!”

栾菊杰家位于埃德蒙顿西部一个安静的小区,一座暗红色的砖房,坐落在四周是绿树环绕的草坪上,门前正盛开着一束束红色的芍药花,一片生机勃发的景象。开门的是她的先生顾大进,一位长相英俊、皮肤白净的绅士,满脸笑容地迎接我们。进门,迎面是一堵巨大冲顶的屏风墙,墙上悬挂着出自埃德蒙顿著名书画家余达明先生之手的“天下第一剑”,字里行间透着一股利剑的英气。字幅下面镜框里的一把金钥匙,是栾菊杰在1986年12月15日“芝加哥国际击剑赛”获得女子花剑冠军后,芝加哥市长亲自赠送的,是芝加哥荣誉市民称号的象征。客厅陈设着栾菊杰和她的两个孩子获得的各种奖杯和奖牌,而那块金光灿灿的奥运金牌尤为显眼。房子的后院很大,菊杰说:“院子是夏天用来给来学击剑的孩子们搭帐篷露营的好地方。”我发现栾菊杰的形象与我在赛场上看到的迥然不同。长发飘逸,个子高挑,尤其是一双长腿的她,身材依然苗条如少女;说话总是带着笑,语速很快,偶尔还会蹦出几个英文单词。赛场上的厮杀叫喊,当教练后的高声训练,使她的嗓子略微有点嘶哑,但这并不妨碍她称得上是一位江南美女。

那天,有一阵子,她只管在厨房忙着,香气扑鼻而来。她笑着介绍说这是她的发明:用卤肉的汤煮面条,所有的味道都被面条吸收,出锅后,再放上一点葱花和香菜。果然,味道无与伦比,让本不喜欢吃面条的我吃了一大碗。真是巧,我俩的名字中间都有一个“菊”字,我们两家都是用字辈来取的名字,“菊”字辈正好轮到我俩这辈。加上她可爱的、胖乎乎的叫佳佳的大女儿,甜甜地叫我阿姨。哈,我的女儿也叫佳佳,这一巧合,立马将我们之间的距离拉近。“她可乖啦,是我们全家的活玩具。”栾菊杰一边说话,一边用充满温柔的母爱的眼神盯着女儿。佳佳抬头听到妈妈的表扬,一张娃娃脸笑得更加灿烂,连她的爸爸也喜爱地伸出手抚摸一下她的头。

栾菊杰回忆着当年。30年前,退役后的栾菊杰,为了实现自己要当裁判的愿望,在先生的理解和支持下,只身来到了加拿大埃德蒙顿,梦想随着飞机的腾空而起飞。可是没想到,以前来参加比赛,一切都安排好的,不用操心任何事情。现在不同了,英文完全是空白,坐在教室里听课都跟不上,先前的兴奋与期待变成了泡沫而破碎不堪。在痛苦与挣扎中,她看到了一样东西,那东西闪闪发光,与她的生命结缘,曾经伴随着她叱咤风云、天下无敌—-剑!菊杰没有成为一名成功的国际裁判,却成了一名优秀的击剑教练。她工作的“埃德蒙顿击剑俱乐部”,坐落在城市的东南角一个平房里,俱乐部的LOGO是一个盾牌形状,让人感觉到一股贵族的霸气。从埃德蒙顿击剑俱乐部网站有关历史的介绍中得知,自从栾菊杰参与,俱乐部发展迅猛,俱乐部队员从起初的40人超过300人,俱乐部逐步解雇了其他教练,直到现在也是她一人任教。在她的直接教练下,女子花剑队当年就获得了加拿大女子花剑团体冠军。男子花剑队在两年后,就获得了男子花剑青年、成年组全国冠军及团体冠军。那以后,栾菊杰的队伍,几乎囊括了全部加拿大各项击剑比赛的金牌。

栾菊杰的家族可说是击剑之家,除了她的妹妹栾红卫和她的丈夫也是击剑教练外,剑气,还遗传给了她的孩子们。大女儿佳佳有先心病,虽然不能英姿起剑,但看见母亲现场执教,耳濡目染,也时常拿起剑自我比划。二女儿和小儿子在母亲的亲自教练下,双双获得过加拿大青少年组的团体击剑冠军。栾菊杰的丈夫顾大进先生一直积极地支持她,还在埃德蒙顿创办了一所周末中文学校,人多的时候有将近十个班,100多个学生,大家都尊称他顾校长。我曾经在那里教过一期中文,当我看到各种肤色的孩子,兴高采烈地在课堂上认真学习中文的时候,感到无比自豪。

有一阵子,我成了栾菊杰的粉丝,几乎每天都开车去她的俱乐部。我喜欢默默地看着她套上击剑服,戴上头盔、手套,再做几个下腰、半蹲的动作,然后跟着一群半大不小的孩子围着练场跑步,做基本的体能训练。在她身上,我看到了一股坚忍不拔的劲头。栾菊杰是个没心没肺、简单、心直口快的人,特别不愿意麻烦别人,但又特别愿意帮助别人。俱乐部就是她的第二个家,这里有一个小小的房间用来存放击剑服和剑、头盔,还有各种修理工具。她除了教学员击剑,还要给他们修理破损的器械。队员受一点小伤,她还要指导他们怎么样复原。我看见一个小男孩脚扭了一下,她立马脱下他的鞋,用双手抱着给他敷冰,按摩。认识栾菊杰的人,都知道她是一个厨艺高超的人。俱乐部有一个巨大的冰箱,这里放着各种饺子、包子、春卷、鸡腿、卤菜,应有尽有,全部都是她自己在家里做好带来给学习击剑的队员们休息时享用的。有时候来不及,她就把材料从家里带来在俱乐部制作。那天,我带着北京作家李玉真夫妇去俱乐部参观,她正在做包子,我们一起动手,一会儿就出来一锅香喷喷的锅贴包子。她得意地告诉我们,那口能做出美味佳肴的锅,是买的二手货,五块钱,用了很多年。

栾菊杰是一个非常朴实、平易近人的名人。一个国内的朋友,是她的粉丝,收集了很多她的照片,当得知我跟她的关系后,欣喜若狂地让我找她要一张签名的照片。菊杰知道后二话没说,从家里找了一张相片,公公正正地签上了自己的名字。每到夏天,有很多从其他国家来的小队员到他们俱乐部参加夏令营,还有的学员专程前来开小课,单独训练,提高剑术。家里住不下,有的孩子自带帐篷,就安扎在她家的院子里。菊杰不仅要教授击剑,还要照顾他们的饮食起居。难怪有年轻的击剑队员称她为“栾妈妈”

2013年秋天,对我来说是一个多事之秋,诸多不顺烦扰。在一个巨大的晚宴后,菊杰来到我的桌子前,把我一把拉在门厅的一角,劝慰了我半个多小时。她说 “你看我,就是没心没肺,不操心闲事,只专心教我的击剑,所以能吃能睡。” 她的劝慰之词,至今都还记得,我早已翻过了那一页,这其中,也有她的功劳。

击剑场上,菊杰是精灵,浑身充满了英姿飒爽的剑气。在生活中,却是一个爱美爱生活的温柔女性。差不多每年的“菊杰杯”比赛都安排在春节左右,所有参赛人员,必须穿上中国的民族服装。记得那是2008年的“菊杰杯”比赛,她穿了一件金丝绒绣花的中式外套,格外显眼和亮丽。比赛还没开始,所有人都在忙碌着布置会场,她也在穿梭不停地指挥。她看见我在帮忙,亲热地对我说:“来来来,我们俩一起照一张像。”可我这个人比较注意形象,觉得那天自己穿的衣服不够漂亮,就说:“不想照。”她笑着大声对我说;“嘿,你这个人,人家都追着我,要跟我一起照像,我让你跟我照,你还不乐意?”她一挥手,赶紧让站在边上的老公拿起相机,嘿嘿,我“被迫”跟她照了一张。栾菊杰是一个知恩图报的女人,在俱乐部算是劳苦功高,但她从未提过任何对报酬的要求。这期间,美国的几家俱乐部曾以数倍高薪邀请,都被她婉拒了。埃德蒙顿击剑俱乐部给了她施展技能的场地,让她在教学中保持了竞技水平,同时让她的英文得到了锻炼。俱乐部拿她当宝贝,有恩于她,她决不忘恩负义。她成了这个俱乐部没有任何合同的教练员,这在俱乐部是前所未有的。

栾菊杰无私的奉献,赢得了大家的赞许和承认。2003年,埃德蒙顿击剑俱乐部为纪念她执教十五周年,特设立一年一次的“栾菊杰杯”击剑比赛。在加拿大,以一个运动员的名字命名一项赛事,甚是罕见。宣布这一决定时,与会人员三次起立鼓掌,让她这个在赛场顽强拼搏,剑穿手臂都不掉泪的人激动地落了泪。国际剑联百年的发展历程中,许多人为击剑运动做出了巨大的贡献,为此,国际剑联特地设立“荣誉堂”用来感谢其中的代表人物。2013年栾菊杰入选该荣誉堂。同时,她连续七年被评为加拿大“全国优秀教练员”。埃德蒙顿是加拿大阿尔伯塔省的首府,1951年起设立名人堂,每年评选一次,旨在表彰在文化艺术、社区服务和体育这3个领域中做出卓越贡献的市民。2008年6月11日,栾菊杰经公众投票选入选。“埃德蒙顿市体育名人堂”,这是对她19年来热心推广体育事业最好的认可。那一年有3个领域各有4人入选,栾菊杰是最年轻的一位。阿尔伯塔省华裔省督林佐民、市长曼德尔、中国驻卡尔加里总领事吴新建等上千名各界人士出席了颁奖仪式。菊杰给了我一张门票,我怀着崇敬和喜悦的心情坐在台下。这天晚上,栾菊杰穿着一件特别漂亮的旗袍,长长的头发挽成一个结,近一米七的身材,真是容光溢彩。仰望着台上唯一的中国人获得如此殊荣,发自内心的骄傲让我心潮澎湃地想冲上去使劲儿地拥抱她。仪式结束后,很多人等着跟她拍照留念。

2008年的 “菊杰杯” 击剑比赛有些特殊。因为这年的8月,50岁的栾菊杰将代表加拿大队再次出现在北京奥运的剑道上。人们为了支持她参加北京奥运会,运用各种形式帮她筹款,我觉得自己也应该尽一份力。我不知道家里有什么东西可以拿去筹款,就拿了一小袋子收藏的硬币,和一串手链,如果有人喜欢收藏钱币,喜欢这一串我制作的手链,筹到的钱,就用于赞助她去北京参加奥运会。菊杰也把她自己收藏的一套印有她相片的邮票拿出来筹款。

栾菊杰成功了,北京奥运会,五十岁的栾菊杰,代表加拿大参加女子花剑比赛,重返剑坛参加女子晋级成功,击败现欧洲冠军后,栾菊杰轻松、骄傲地从包中拿出精心准备的条幅,上面写着三个大字:“祖国好”。这一刻,全场为她起立,呐喊,鼓掌。

栾菊杰虽然在加拿大,但心中一直爱着生她养她的中国。她多次回国,把击剑技术传授给年轻人。菊杰曾对我说:“我走到哪里,都想用我的拼搏精神去感染现在的年轻人。”    

十年后的“菊杰杯”,是2018年的11月17-18日在阿尔伯塔大学教育系体育馆举行,共有来自加拿大近150名参赛队员,其中还有国家队击剑预备队员。年纪最大的是一位81岁的作家、插画师朱丽叶。她跟我聊起菊杰,真是感慨万分: “是菊杰鼓励我跟她一道去意大利参加 ‘2018世界元老击剑赛’,也是她支持我最后一次参加 ‘菊杰杯’比赛。我非常感谢她给我的教练和关照,我相信,她到我这个年纪,一定还在剑场奋战。” 她笑着从包里拿出一套卡片。她将心目中的英雄栾菊杰,用彩色的笔描绘出来,配上文字作为礼物送给栾菊杰。埃德蒙顿击剑俱乐部负责人乔安娜对我说:“十年前,我女儿就在菊杰手下学习击剑,从那时起,我就认识了菊杰。我们都很敬佩她,爱她。”

栾菊杰退役后到加拿大已近30年,热爱祖国,热爱家乡的心从未改变。当然,祖国和家乡也从来没有忘记过她。她60岁获得世界击剑冠军后,正逢江苏省击剑队成立60周年隆重举行庆祝大会,邀请她回家,并给她颁发了省击剑队的 “杰出贡献奖” 。剑场上,栾菊杰培养的运动员上千,获奖无数,光环闪烁,是人们心目中的英雄;生活中的她,却是一个热心的、善良的、平易近人的女性。栾菊杰绝对是一个奇迹,世界剑坛的奇迹!

A Closer Look at Luan Jujie

Written by Jiani and Li Yuzhen

Translated by Jiali Shang

“Jiani, I’m so glad to hear your voice again!” Luan Jujie called me from Livorno, Italy, right in the middle of the award ceremony for the 2018 World Veteran Fencing Competition. At the age of 60, she won the women’s foil champion and the second runner-up in epee. It had been 40 years exact since Jujie won her first world champion, yet her sword hasn’t turned dull with time passing by.

Back in March 1978, at the 29th World Youth Fencing Championship held in Madrid, Spain, 20-year-old Luan Jujie became the first Asian runner-up, brought honor to the motherland and Asia. Sword Out of the Sheath, a reportage by Li You, documented her fighting spirit in the “blood-shedding” arena, caused a sensation in the entire country of China. From then on, Lun Jujie fought continuously and won numerous more medals, which made her life’s journey shine brightly. In December 1978, she won the championship at the Asian Games in Bangkok and was hailed as the “First Sword of the East”; in 1981, the runner-up at the World Championships in Clermont-Ferrand, France; in 1983, the championship at the 6th International Women’s Foil Competition in Leipzig, Germany; in 1984, the women’s foil in the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, USA..

At the peak of her sports career, Luan Jujie chose to fade away from the centre stage of flowers and applauds; quietly, she set out on a new journey towards her next dream. She wanted to win a place in the International Sword Federation, to become a fair international referee. This, to her, is another way to continue her contribution to the sports of fencing. In 1989, Luan Juejie retired from China’s national team and moved to Canada.

In summer 2008, I visited Luan Jujie for the first time, in Edmonton, Canada. Her godfather Mr. Cao drove me to her place. Luan Jujie’s acquaintance with Mr. Cao was due to the introduction of Li Furong, the head of the Chinese sports-team delegation. In July 1983, the 12th World University Games was held in Edmonton, Canada. Mr. Cao was a photographer back then. After the photo shooting of Luan Jujie, they exchanged contact information and maintained a relationship as pen mate. In the following years, hundreds of correspondences and countless phone conversations sublimed their feelings to father-daughter affection, and her initial thought of coming to Edmonton was also based on the fact that Mr. Cao and his family were there for her in Edmonton. Mr. Cao, close to 80 years old now, always has a big smile on his face when talking about Lun Jujie. He used to say that “Jujie is the pride of China, the pride of Canada, the pride of her family, and of course the pride of mine as well!”

Luan Jujie’s family home is located in a quiet residential area at the west end of Edmonton, a dark-red brick house sitting on a green lawn surrounded by trees. Bunches of red peony flowers were blooming in front of the house, which was such a vibrant scene. The door was opened by her husband Gu Dajin, a handsome, fair-skinned gentleman. He greeted us with a big smile on his face. Walking inside the house, there was a huge screen-wall facing the door. On the wall hangs the “First Sword of the World” by Mr. Yu Daming, a famous painter and calligrapher in Edmonton. The calligraphy exhibits an air of sharpness from a sword. Below the screen-wall, there was a golden key mounted on the inside of a frame. The key was presented by the mayor of the City of Chicago personally after Luan Jujie won the women’s foil championship at the Chicago International Fencing Championship on December 15, 1986. It is a symbol of the title of Honorary Citizen of Chicago. The living room was furnished with various trophies and medals won by Luan Jujie and her two children. Among all the medals, the Olympic gold medal was the most eye-catching.

The backyard of the house is very big. “The yard is a good place for children who come to learn fencing to camp in the summer.” Jujie said. Luan Jujie’s look was very different from what I saw on TV. She is tall with long flowy hair; in particular, she has very long legs. She had a slender built, like a young girl. When she speaks, she always has a smile on her face. She talks rather fast, with a few English words popping up occasionally. The fighting screams in the competition field and the shouting at training as a coach made her voice a little hoarse, but this does not prevent her from being called a Jiangnan beauty.

During my visit, she was busy in the kitchen for quite a while, and there the fragrance came from the kitchen. She told me that this was her invention, boiling noodle with the soup from a meat-stew, and all the flavors would have been absorbed by the noodle. Taking the noodle out of the pot and sprinkling with some chopped green onion and coriander, it can surely concur anyone’s taste buds. Sure enough, I ate a big bowl, which is very rare for someone who doesn’t like noodles.

It’s such a coincidence that both our names have the word “Ju” (meaning chrysanthemum) in it. The ancestors of both of our families practiced the naming convention of using word to signify the generation of their children, and “Ju” happened to be the mid word of our names. Her oldest daughter’s name is Jiajia, who addressed me sweetly as aunty. It happens that my daughter’s name is also Jiajia. These coincidences immediately shortened the distance between us. “She’s a very good girl, a baby doll of our entire family.” Said Jujie with affection. When she said it, Jujie looked at her daughter with eyes full of tender maternal love. Jiajia was very happy to hear her mother’s praise, she raised her head with an even bigger smile on her baby face. Jiajia’s dad also extended his hand and gave Jiajia an affectionate rub on the head.

Luan Jujie recalled those passed years. Thirty years ago, after retiring from China’s national team, to pursue her dream of being a referee, Luan Jujie alone came to Edmonton with the understanding and support of her husband. The airplane carried her dream took off. When the airplane took off from the tarmac, her dream also started its journey of realization. However, this time things were very different from when she visited Edmonton the previous time during her competition. Back then, everything was arranged, and she didn’t have to worry about anything. Now as an international student siting in the classroom with no English language skills, she couldn’t follow the professors’ lectures. Her original excitement and expectation were crushed and shattered. She was in deep despair and was struggling. Yet she saw a gleaming object, and became attached to her life, which once accompanied her to smash the wind and the clouds, the world is invincible-the sword! Although Jujie did not succeed in becoming an international referee, she became an accomplished fencing coach.

The “Edmonton Fencing Club” where she worked is located in a bungalow in the southeast corner of the city. The club’s logo is a shield shape, which makes people feel aristocratic. According to the Edmonton Fencing Club’s website, the club has developed rapidly since Luan Jujie joined in the club. The club has increased to than 300 players from the original 40 at the beginning. Now, Luan Jujie is only one coach of the club who teaches. Under her direct coaching, the women’s foil team has won the Canadian women’s foil team championship, and the men’s foil team won the men’s foil youth and adult national championship in 2008 and team championship two years later. Since then, Luan Jujie’s team has won almost all gold medals in all Canadian fencing competitions.

Luan Jujie comes from a family of fencing. In addition to her younger sister Luan Hongwei and her husband who are also a fencing coach, the sword spirit has also been passed on to her children. Their eldest daughter Jiajia has a heart condition. Although she can’t play the sword heroically, she sees her mother teaching on the spot. Jiajia often picks up the sword to practice a few moves on her own. The second-oldest daughter and the youngest son have both won the team fencing championships in the Canadian Junior Division under the personal coaching of their mother. Luan Jujie’s husband, Mr. Gu Dajin, has been supporting her actively all the way. He also founded a weekend Chinese school in Edmonton. In a busy year, there were nearly ten classes with more than 100 students. Everyone respectively calls him Principal Gu. I used to teach Chinese there for a period of time. When I saw children of all skin colors studying Chinese happily at the Chinese school, I feel extremely proud.

For quite a while, I became a fan of Luan Jujie and drove to her club almost every day. I like to silently watch her putting on her fencing suit, helmet and gloves, and do a few lower waist and half-squatting movements. She then followed a group of small and big children running around the practice field and do basic physical training. She exhibited great perseverance. Luan Jujie is a simple and outspoken person who doesn’t like to bother others, yet she will go out of her way to help others.

To Luan Jujie, the club is her second home. There is a small room for storing fencing uniforms, swords, helmets, and various repairing tools. In addition to being a fencing instructor, she also repairs broken equipment for the students. If any of the team members suffered from a minor injury, she also teaches them how to recover. One time, I saw a little boy twisted his foot, she immediately took off his shoes, held him up, applied ice pack on his foot, and gave his foot a massage. Luan Jujie is also a very good cook; anyone who has tried her cooking knows that Lu Jujie has superb cooking skills.

The club has a huge refrigerator. There are various dumplings, steamed buns, spring rolls, chicken drumsticks, and stewed vegetables. Luan Jujie made all of them at home and brought them to the club for the fencing-team members to enjoy during their recess. Sometimes when it gets too busy with no time to prepare, she brings the ingredients from home and makes them at the club. One day, I took Beijing writer Li Yuzhen and his wife to visit Luan Jujie at her home. Jujie was making steamed buns, and we all joined in making the buns. A while later, a pot of yummy steamed buns was ready. Proudly she told us that the steamer was bought second-hand, costing only $5, and it has been used for many years.

Luan Jujie is a down-to-earth and very approachable celebrity. A friend of mine is a fan of Luan Jujie, and she has been collecting photographs of Luan Jujie. After learning about my friendship with Jujie, my friend was ecstatic and asked me to help her getting Luan Jujie’s autograph. After knowing it, Jujie didn’t say a word. She found a photo from home and signed her name on it.

Every summer, many young players from other countries come to the Edmonton clubs to participate in summer camps. There were also students who made special trips to get private individual lessons to improve their swordsmanship. When the number of students were high, there wasn’t enough rooms for them, some children would bring their own tents and set them up in her backyard. Luan Jujie not only teaches fencing, but also looks after the students’ meals and daily living. No wonder so many young fencers calling her “Mother Luan”.

The autumn of 2013 was an eventful period for me, with many troubles in my life. After a huge dinner, Jujie came to my table and pulled me to one side of the hallway, comforting me for more than half an hour. She said, “Look at me, I am simple-minded, don’t think too much, and only focus on teaching fencing. So I can eat and sleep without any worries.” Till this day, I still remember her comforting words. Now that page has been successfully turned, and Jujie had definitely made a positive impact in the process.

On the fencing strip, Jujie is an elf, full of heroic sword aura. In life, she is a gentle woman who loves beautiful things and life in general. Almost every year, the “Jujie Cup” competition is scheduled around the time of the Chinese Spring Festival, and all participants must wear Chinese traditional costumes. I remember vividly that, at the 2008 “Jujie Cup” competition, she wore a velvet traditional Chinese outfit with golden embroider, and she looked absolutely beautiful and stunning. Before the game started, everyone was busy preparing the venue, and Jujie has also been giving instructions non-stop. She saw me helping and said to me affectionately: “Come here Jiani, let’s take a picture together.” However, I didn’t want to be photographed as I wasn’t wearing beautiful cloth that day; I am a person very conscious about my image. She then said teasingly, “Don’t want to take a picture? “She laughed and said loudly to me; “Hey, you, people usually chase me around wanting to take pictures with me. Now I am asking you, and you don’t want to?” With a wave of her hand, her husband who was standing beside us picked up the camera. Aha, I was “forced” to take a photo with her. Luan Jujie is a person having the decency of returning gratitude. She worked hard in the club and made huge contributions, but she has never asked for monetary reward.

Throughout her coaching career, several American clubs have approached her to invite Jujie to join the them in the US with much more pay, but she declined them all. The Edmonton Fencing Club has given her a place to apply her skills, allowed her to maintain her competitive level in teaching, and her English has also improved through teaching. The Edmonton Fencing Club has treated her like gold and been very kind to her. Hence, she is forever grateful. In fact, she is a coach of the club without a contract, which is unprecedented in any club.

Luan Jujie’s selflessness and dedication had won the hearts and recognition of everyone. In 2003, the Edmonton Fencing Club set up an annual “Luan Jujie Cup” fencing competition to commemorate her 15th anniversary in coaching. It is very rare in Canada to name an event after an athlete. When the decision was announced, all the attendees of the meeting stood up three times and applauded her. As a fearless fighter on the competition field who didn’t shed a tear with the sward piercing her arm, Edmonton people’s kind gestures made her tearing up with gratitude. At the global scale, Luan Jujie was selected to enter the Hall of Fame by the International Sword Federation in 2003. The Hall of Fame is for honoring athletes who made paramount contributions to the sports of fencing over its one-hundred-year development history. 

Luan Jujie was also named as Canada’s “National Excellent Coach” for seven consecutive years. Edmonton is the capital of the Province of Alberta, Canada. Edmonton has a Hall of Fame that was established in 1951. The laureate is selected once a year to recognize citizens who have made outstanding contributions in the three fields of culture and art, community service, and sports. On June 11th, 2008, Luan Jujie was selected by public voting. Being named to the “Edmonton City Sports Hall of Fame”, this was the best recognition of her 19 years of enthusiastic promotion of sports.

In the same year, four people in each of the three fields were selected, and Luan Jujie was the youngest one. Thousands of people from all walks of life, including Alberta Chinese Governor Lin Zuomin, Mayor Mandel, and Chinese Consul General Wu Xinjian in Calgary, attended the award ceremony. Jujie gave me a ticket, and I was sitting in the audience section with respect and joy. That night, Luan Jujie wore a particularly beautiful cheongsam, with her long hair tied into a bun; at the height of nearly 1.7 meter, she was tall and radiant. Looking up at the only Chinese on the stage to receive such a prestigious award, the pride from my heart made me want to rush over her side and hug her passionately. After the ceremony, many people waited to take pictures with her.

The 2008 “Jujie Cup” fencing competition was a bit out of the ordinary. Because in August of this year, 50-year-old Luan Jujie would once again represent the Canadian team in the kendo of the Beijing Olympics. In order to support her participation in the Beijing Olympics, people used various means to raise funds. I felt that I must do my share. I didn’t know exactly what I can use to raise money at home, so I took a small bag of collection coins and a string of bracelets. If someone is a coin collector, or someone who likes the bracelets that I made, I could use the money I raised to help her go to Beijing. Jujie also took out an album of stamps with photos of herself from her own collection to raise money.栾菊杰

Luan Jujie had succeeded. At the Beijing Olympics, 50-year-old Luan Jujie represented Canada in the women’s foil competition. After defeating the European champion, Luan Jujie proudly took out the carefully prepared banner from her bag and held it high over her head. The banner read: “Hello Motherland!”. At that moment, the audiences stood up for her, shouting, and applauding.

Though living in Canada, Motherland China, which given birth to and raised her, has always been in her heart. She returned to China many times and taught fencing skills to young Chinese people. Jujie once said to me: “Wherever I go, I want to use my fighting spirit to inspire young people today.”

Ten years later, the “Jujie Cup” was held at the University of Alberta’s Department of Education Gymnasium on November 17-18, 2018. There were nearly 150 participating players from Canada, including the national team’s fencing reserve. The oldest is an 81-year-old writer and book illustrator Juliet. She talked about Jujie with me with gratitude. She said: “It was Jujie who encouraged me to go to Italy with her to participate in the 2018 World Fencing Competition, and it was also her who supported me to participate in the Jujie Cup competition for the last time. I am very grateful for the coaching and care she has given me. I believe that when she is at my age, she must still be fighting on the sword strip.” She smiled while taking out a set of cards from her bag. She painted her hero Luan Jujie with colour pencils and gave them to Luan Jujie as a gift. Joanna, the head of the Edmonton Fencing Club, said to me: “Ten years ago, my daughter learned fencing under Jujie, and I got to know her from then. We all admire her and love her. “

Luan Jujie has been in Canada for nearly 30 years since her retirement from China’s national team, but her love of the motherland and her hometown has never changed, and the motherland and her hometown have never forgotten about her either. The year that she won the world fencing championship at the age of 60, it happened to be the 60th anniversary of the Jiangsu Provincial Fencing Team. She was invited to go home to be part of the celebration and received the Award of Outstanding Contribution by the Jiangsu Provincial Fencing Team.

On the fencing stripe, Luan Jujie has trained thousands of athletes and won countless competitions, making her a shining hero in people’s hearts. Outside of the piste in everyday living, she is a warmhearted, kind, and approachable woman. Luan Jujie is definitely a legend, a legend in the fencing world!

作者简介:嘉妮,四川南充人,现旅居加拿大。在加拿大出版中英双语儿童故事系列;获加拿大《光华报》征文一等奖;《中国妇女》征文二等奖;《小说选刊》征文三等奖;“漂母杯”全国征文比赛三等奖。作品发表在《格调》、《红杉林》、《中国妇女海外版》、《上海侨报》、《南充日报》、《嘉陵江》等媒体。

作者简介:李玉真简介生于重庆。中国作家协会会员。著书8部。央视多次播出的电视散文《西部女人》多年来广传为主持播音朗诵课件。近百篇作品收入全国各类文集。其中有“20位西部女作家写西部散文精编”《西部的柔情》、《新世纪优秀报告文学选(2001-2006)》、《2010年中国散文经典》、《中国散文排行榜》等。获得多种文学奖。歌曲《采油姑娘上山来》获全国“五一”文化奖。

本期卷首语、执行编辑、英文翻译: 尚佳莉
Preamble, Executive Editor,Translation: Jiali Shang

本期责任编辑: 曼都拉  Managing Editor: Mandula

本期中文诵读: 艾雪 Chinese Reciter: Linda

本期英文诵读: 希希 English Reciter: Sophie

本期编审: 何根祥 Story Editor: Gen He

本期策划/责任编辑:程炯Producer, Managing Editor:Jiong Cheng

主编/翻译责编/排版设计: 彧蛇
Editor/Translation Editor, Design Editor: Shadow Snake

《朗读者——海外精英》编委

主办单位

加拿大国际华人作家协会

合办单位

加拿大中国文学研究社

诗情太平洋国际文学社

团体名誉主席团

加拿大华人同乡会联合总会会长:韩加良

多伦多华人团体联合总会主席:翁国宁

加拿大中国商会团体联盟主席:王海澄

加拿大大西洋文化艺术交流协会会长:于琮章

加中海外交流協会会長:陸炳雄

加拿大多元文化民间艺术协会会长:沈谢元

加拿大多伦多艺空间文创中心总监:刘向平

加拿大中国专业妇女协会会长:梁梅英

加拿大加中经贸文化交流协会会长:周建成 

加中地产投资总商会会长:孙志峰

北美华人健康协会会长:王培忠

加拿大国际摄影艺术交流协会/北美手机摄影协会/几何艺术中心主席:琥珀

加拿大国际健康养老产业联盟主席:程炯

企业名誉主席团

加雄集团董事长:陆炳雄

传媒名誉主席团

华人头条多伦多通讯董事长:彭良健

环球华语融媒体台长:王瑞军、向希拉

枫华传媒集团总裁:梁晓敏

名誉顾问

中国作协会员,世界华文微型小说研究会会长:凌鼎年

编委

总策划:程炯

总编辑:彧蛇

主编:曼都拉、尚佳莉

责任编辑:何根祥、刘俊民、铁木尔、朗文玲

英译指导:伊人在岸、彧蛇 

英文翻译:彧蛇、伊人在岸、朗文玲、尚佳莉、鲁四彬、悠悠玫瑰、赵宜忠John

朗读指导:陈阳、Salina

朗读编委:陈阳、Salina、尔凡、五月花儿开、玉华、玲子

排版编辑:烟花易冷、夢緑烟蘿、彧蛇、庄朝兰

主要执行编辑:彧蛇、程炯、曼都拉、何根祥、庄朝兰、姜尼、伊人在岸、铁木尔、刘俊民、孙瑞祥、玉华、由之、尚佳莉、黄海燕、朗文玲

摄影编辑:郭醒奇

协办单位团

美洲文化之声国际传媒网

活水北读书会

加拿大海河文学社

RECITER: ELITES OF OVERSEAS  EDITORIAL BOARD

Organized by

·        International Chinese Writers Association of Canada (ICWAC)

Jointly-organized by

·        Canada Chinese Alumni Literature Research Society

·        Pacific Literature Association

Honorary Presidium of Social Organizations:

·        President, Council of Newcomer Organizations: Edward Han

·        Chairman, The Confederation of Chinese Canadian Organizations: Guo Ning Weng

·        Chairman, Federation of Canadian Chinese Chamber of Commerce:  Harris Wang

·        President, Atlantic Culture and Arts Exchange Association: Charlie Yu

·        President, Canada China Overseas Exchanges Association: Tony Luk

·        President, Multicultural & Folk Arts Association of Canada: Jennifer Shen

·        Director, Toronto Art Creations Centre of Canada: Xiangping Liu

·        President, Chinese Professional Women of Canada: Angela Liang

·        President, Canada-China Economy Trade & Culture Exchange Promotion Alliance: Ted Zhou

·        President, Canada-China Realty Professional Association: Steven Sun

·        President, Centre for New Immigrant Well-being: Pei Zhong Wang

·        Chairman, Canada International Photographic Art Exchange Association / North America Mobile Photography Association / Geometry Art Center: Hooper Chen

·        Chairman, Canada International Health & Culture Education Industrial Alliance: Jiong Cheng

Honorary Presidium of Entreprises:

·        President, Canhome Group of Companies: Tony Luk

Honorary Presidium of Media:

·        Chairman, Chinese Headline Toronto New Media: Liangjian Peng

·        Directors, Global Chinese Convergence Media: Ruijun Wang, Cela Xiang

·        CEO, Fenghua Media Group Inc.: Xiaomin Liang

Honorary Advisor:

·       President of the World Chinese Micro-fiction Research Association: Ding Nian Ling

Editorial Committee:

·        Producer: Jiong Cheng

·        Editor-In-Chief: Shadow Snake

·        Editor: Mandula、Jiali Shang

·        Managing Editors: Gen He, Junmin Liu, Timur ci Tartar, Wendy Lang

·        Translation Editors: Yiren, Shadow Snake, Wendy Lang, Zhong Jiali Shang,John Zhao, Sibin Lu, Leanne Li

·        Recitation Editors: Chen Yang, Salina, Er Fan, May Flower, Erin Liu, Shirley

·        Layout and Design Editors: Yanhua Yileng, Menglv Yanluo, Shadow Snake, Cassie Zhuang

·        Executive Editors: Shadow Snake, Jiong Cheng, Gen He, Mandula, Cassie Zhuang, Johnny, Yiren, Timur ci Tartar, Junmin Liu, Jack Sun, Erin Liu, Andy Zhao, Jiali Shang, Wendy Huang, Wendy Lang

·        Photography Editor:Frank Guo

Co-organized by:  

·        Sound of USA

·        Living Water North Reading Group

·        Tianjin Authors Association of Canada 

美洲文化之声简介

《美洲文化之声》国际传媒网(Sound of USA)成立于2016年,是美国政府批准的综合网络平台,主要从事华语文学作品的交流推广。目前已与Google、百度、Youku、Youtube 等搜索引擎联网,凡在这里发表的作品均可同时在以上网站搜索阅读。我们致力于弘扬中华传统文化,同时提倡文学创作的思想性和唯美主义风格,为世界各地的华语文学作品交流尽一份微博之力。同时,美洲文化之声俱乐部也正式成立,俱乐部团结了众多的海内外知名诗人、作家和评论家,正在形成华语世界高端文学沙龙。不分国籍和地区、不分流派,相互交流学习,共同为华语文学的发展效力。“传播中华优秀文化、倾听世界美好声音”,这是我们美好的追求和不可推卸的责任。

总编:韩舸友,副总编:李学、冷观,本期编辑:李学

图片来源于UNSPLASH.COM

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