At the recent Speed Skating World Cup in Beijing, Chinese speed skaters demonstrated their growing prowess on the ice by securing an impressive medal tally. Over the three-day competition, the team clinched two silver and four bronze medals, marking a significant achievement in the sport.
Ning Zhongyan emerged as a standout performer for the Chinese team, securing one silver and two bronze medals across three races. His remarkable performance has positioned him as a marquee name in Chinese speed skating. Joining him in the spotlight is female skater Han Mei, who contributed significantly with one silver and one bronze medal.
The National Speed Skating Oval, often referred to as the “fastest ice” due to the breaking of 10 Olympic records last year, served as the venue for this year’s World Cup. Ning Zhongyan reflected on his experience, sharing that he felt more relaxed and focused on enjoying the race compared to the nerves he experienced during last year’s Olympics at the same venue.
In the women’s 1,500 meters event, Han Mei finished just 0.4 seconds behind Japanese veteran Miho Takagi, a three-time medalist at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. Li Qishi, another talented member of the Chinese team, secured third place. Han expressed her excitement about competing with home crowd support and her ambition to reach the podium at the Milan 2026 Olympics.
This achievement in the women’s 1,500 meters is particularly noteworthy, as it marks the first time a Chinese female skater has entered the top three in this event since Song Li’s third-place finish during the 1999-2000 season in the Netherlands.
Li Yan, the head coach of the national speed skating team, emphasized the importance of participating in World Cup events as part of the preparation for the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics. She highlighted the team’s focus on identifying areas for improvement and building a strong team spirit to support each other and achieve breakthroughs.
While short track speed skating has gained popularity in China, long-track speed skating, particularly in mid-to-long-distance events, has seen fewer successes. However, recent achievements by skaters like Ning Zhongyan and Han Mei signify important progress in this area.
Gao Tingyu, who secured a gold medal in the 500 meters event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, also made a notable return at the Beijing World Cup. Despite not competing in the previous season, Gao narrowly missed a podium finish. Coach Li Yan expressed satisfaction with Gao’s recovery and return to top-level competition.
The successes of Chinese speed skaters at the Beijing World Cup are indicative of the country’s growing strength and potential in the sport. As these athletes continue to hone their skills and compete on the international stage, they bring renewed enthusiasm and hope for further accomplishments in the world of speed skating.
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