To Embrace My Limitations | George Wei | TEDxHuili Shanghai Youth
Bribed into his first triathlon at age 5 (thanks, Disneyland!), George thought he'd drown - until he accidentally became a champion. Now he gets chased by crabs, does math mid-race, and wins medals while proving our "weaknesses" are just untapped superpowers. Moral? Life's more fun when you stop fighting your limits...and start racing with them! George Wei is a fourth-grade student at HIBA Academy Shanghai and a passionate triathlete with over five years of training in swimming, running, and cycling. His dedication earned him a bronze medal at the 2023 National Triathlon U-Series Competition, and he proudly represented Pudong District in the 2024 Shanghai Student Games (Primary School Division) triathlon event. Beyond sports, George has a deep love for literature and musical theatre. By age 8, he scored 800 on the TOEFL Junior test, and by 9, he earned the French A2 language certification. His creative talents shine through his writing and performance — he has been named one of the Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award “Top Ten” and won first prize in both writing and speech at the ESDP Shanghai Competition.In 2024, George expanded his horizons as a model for NIKE Kids’ summer campaign and Kidswear at Shanghai Fashion Week. He is also a member of the Shanghai Earflying Children's Theatre Troupe. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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