Time is like slipping sand through our fingers—we can never predict whether it will pile up into a king's castle or fade away with the wind. Even if a stone has endured hundreds of millions of years under extreme temperature and pressure, the moment it is quarried does not guarantee an immediate, breathtaking display of brilliance. Lee Chih-kai resonates deeply with this, which became the catalyst for his collaboration with CHENHOW MARBLE: "Without dwelling on the outcome, all we can do is give everything we have in every single moment." Practicing gymnastics since kindergarten, his body underwent endless cycles of flexing and stretching, repeatedly battling against movements that defy human biomechanics. This is especially true for the rings—where two hands support the entire body weight while maintaining a straight, stable balance—and the Thomas flare, which requires legs spread wide while executing continuous rotations over the pommel horse. Yet once sweat and tears are overcome and physical limits are shattered, Lee describes the moment as unfurling like a flower in full bloom—releasing pure strength that traces fluid arcs across the air, epitomizing the ultimate aesthetic of human power. Similarly, the formation of natural stone requires hundreds of millions of years of geological evolution across the Earth, giving rise to artistic treasures rich in varied colors and veining. Natural stone stands as a dialogue between humanity and the universe, built upon an unimaginable expanse of time.

Yet when speaking of falling just short of gold at the Tokyo Olympics and failing to secure a fourth consecutive title in the individual all-around at the National Games, Lee Chih-kai could not help a brief moment of reflection: "That is the nature of competition—striving for perfection amidst imperfection. That touch of regret becomes the engine driving me forward next time." Ever since falling off the pommel horse at the 2016 Rio Olympics, his mindset underwent a profound transformation; he reminded himself that having already failed on the Olympic stage itself, there was little else left to fear. "Rankings matter, of course, but I focus far more on my own breakthroughs and personal growth—striving to achieve higher difficulty scores step by step and elevating the baseline standard I set for myself." Lee treats every practice session as vital, pushing to attempt movements repeatedly within his capacity and granting himself one more try. Naturally, self-transcendence and rankings go hand in hand—at the Tokyo Olympics, he executed a 6.7 difficulty score pommel horse routine for the first time, captivating and moving the entire arena.

Image / The resplendent "Alpinus", presenting CHENHOW MARBLE's golden blessing to the athlete.

The resounding success of the "Prince of the Pommel Horse" ushered in a vibrant new chapter for Lee Chih-kai beyond a life once dominated solely by training. As brand ambassadorships and photo shoots rolled in, he found joy in exploring unfamiliar domains—much like this collaboration with natural stone art, where a shared journey of enduring time's rigorous refinement created a deep sense of mutual resonance. Engaging with diverse fields has strengthened his mental resilience before public audiences, overcoming stage fright and allowing him to perform his routines with greater poise during competitions. More importantly, speaking across various platforms enables him to leverage his influence to raise awareness for gymnastics. "In the past, when people talked about gymnastics, they would casually brush it off as mere tumbling or rolling, sometimes even with negative connotations. But gymnastics is far more complex; it demands years of dedicated effort to execute. I want people to truly understand gymnastics and appreciate the intrinsic beauty of these movements." He is equally thrilled to see growing participation in the sport: "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back to the gymnastics community, helping younger athletes grow faster, overcome bottlenecks, and navigate their uncertainties with fewer setbacks."

Image / Athlete Lee Chih-kai photographed with CHENHOW MARBLE Founder Mr. Po-kun Chen.