Source:REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
[Saba Sports News] On February 5, the Chinese badminton team was invited to the 2025 Weibo Night event. Since Shi Yuqi was dubbed the best singer on the team by his teammates, he spontaneously sang a segment of the classic song “You Raise Me Up” acapella at the encouragement of the guests and hosts, without any rehearsal. Although he momentarily forgot the lyrics, causing some good-natured laughter, his calm voice and genuine emotion still earned him applause from the audience. The excited scene of actress Li Bingbing clapping was captured on camera and quickly trended on social media.
This impromptu performance not only broke the traditional image of athletes at entertainment events but also showcased the vibrant personality of a top athlete. According to sources, “You Raise Me Up” is a song with a warm melody and powerful message, released by the band Secret Garden in December 2001. Shi Yuqi explained that this performance was not merely for entertainment; it served as a metaphorical footnote to his career, reflecting the lyrics in the song, “You raise me up to more than I can be.”
At the Paris Olympics, Shi Yuqi experienced losses and hardships, yet he achieved a miraculous comeback by winning the 2025 Badminton World Championship with four consecutive three-game reversals. As he expressed after his victory, “I have finally put down the burden of wanting to win and being afraid to lose; I just need to give my best effort.”