Chinese short track speed skaters conduct their first training session in Milan, Italy on February 2, 2026. Photo: VCG

Multiple Chinese winter sports teams have descended upon Italy, marking the start of their intensive final training cycles. On Tuesday, the Chinese figure skating team was the latest to touch down in Milan. 

China has sent a delegation with a record-breaking 126 athletes, the largest ever for an overseas Winter Olympics. The athletes are set to compete across seven major sports, 15 disciplines and 91 events.

After a grueling 10.5-hour overnight flight from Beijing, the athletes arrived at Milan's Malpensa airport, laden with competition gear and training equipment. The figure skating team will be among the first to compete at the Winter Olympics, with the team event short program slated for Friday, the same day at the opening ceremony. 

The Chinese figure skating squad features a mix of veterans and a newcomer: three-time Olympian men's singles skater Jin Boyang, pairs duo Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, and ice dancers Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu and women's singles and newcomer Zhang Ruiyang. 

Jin, at 28, who enters his third Olympics with the aim for a stronger mental game, seeks to draw from past experiences at Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022.

The first contingents touched down early on Saturday, with China's short track speed skating team and snowboard big air and slopestyle squads leading the charge.

Events for figure skating and short track will unfold at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, a hub for China's ice-based hopes. 

While the figure skating team arrived Tuesday, several of China's medal-contending squads had already landed in Italy days earlier, spearheading their final preparations.

The short track squad's composition reflects a blend of experience and youth, with five men - Lin Xiaojun, Liu Shaoang, Sun Long, Zhang Bohao and Li Wenlong - and five women: Fan Kexin, Gong Li, Zhang Chutong, Wang Xinran and Yang ­Jingru. 

Relays remain China's stronghold in short track, positioned as primary medal hopes, while individual sprints offer additional podium potential. The team has started their training session in Milan.

Ahead of the team's departure to Italy, vice team chief Liu Hao outlined that the team's straightforward yet resolute goals are to "win glory for the country," but he also emphasized that the intensity of international competition means the results are unpredictable.

Beyond short track, where China traditionally relies on relay strength and tactical execution, the long-track speed skating team has also settled in Milan, shifting focus to individual sprint distances. High-profile athletes like Gao Tingyu bolster the lineup, with the team eyeing medals in sprint distances.

Away from the ice arenas in Milan, China's snow-based disciplines have taken their preparations to the mountains. The Chinese snowboard big air and slopestyle team proceeded directly to Livigno, a mountainous venue over 200 kilometers from Milan. 

Defending big air champion Su Yiming, who had already notched back-to-back FIS World Cup wins in Chongli and Beijing this season, led the group in their inaugural official session on Monday. 

Reflecting on the course, Su noted its similarities to Beijing's setup but highlighted the adaptations needed. 

"The venue feels quite comfortable overall and has some similarities with the Big Air course in Beijing. There are differences in slope angle and speed, so it will take time to adjust," Su said. 

He added that the focus is on gradual progression. "I didn't try many high-difficulty tricks today. The focus was on adapting my movements and following the preparation plan step by step. There are more training sessions still ahead."

Su's mind-set heading into his second Olympics reveals a matured perspective forged through post-Beijing challenges, including injuries and a temporary loss of motivation. 

Joining Su is debutant Ge Chun­yu, the 19-year-old who earned his first World Cup podium in Chongli. 

Ge stressed composure amid the Olympic buzz: "There's no need to get overly excited. The most important thing is to stay composed and focus on what I need to do." 

The men's big air qualifications on Thursday represent one of China's earliest medal opportunities.

In freestyle skiing, another medal-­rich area for China, the team has set up in Livigno, led by veterans Xu Mengtao and Qi Guangpu, both on their fifth Olympic appearances. 

China secured maximum quotas in men's and women's individual events, targeting a sweep that includes the mixed team. 

Gu Ailing, who won three medals at Beijing 2022, is back after overcoming a serious injury in 2025. 

As athletes finalize their preparations across northern Italy, the broader Olympic spectacle is also coming into focus.

The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics to be held at the San Siro Stadium on Friday will be bringing renowned performers including Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Italian tenor singer Andrea Bocelli, US singer Mariah Carey to the stage. 

A cast of 1,340 performers from more than 27 countries will perform across four locations, according to the International Olympic Committee.