SPORT / MISCELLANY
Chinese athletes poised to build on legacy of Beijing 2022 in Milan
Eyeing winter glory
With the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics unfolding at Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium on Friday, the Chinese team has arrived with its largest-ever overseas delegation, one brimming with a mix of seasoned champions and youthful talent.
This 286-member team, including 126 athletes, will compete across a record 91 events in 15 disciplines, covering about 78.4 percent of the total 116 events, showcasing the rapid evolution of Chinese winter athletics since the home triumph at Beijing 2022.
The average age of 25 underscores a balanced squad: Nine defending Beijing gold medalists return to defend their legacies, while over 20 athletes born after 2005 inject fresh energy, representing more than half of the newcomers making their Olympic debuts.
Leading the charge into the opening ceremony will be speed skater Ning Zhongyan and short track speed skater Zhang Chutong, who have been named as flag bearers for the Chinese delegation.
Ning, 26, brings a pedigree of multiple World Cup medals earned since 2019, including three golds from the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
Zhang, 22, adds her own shine with a gold in the women's 3,000-meter relay at the 2025 Asian Games and a bronze in the same event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Their selection symbolizes the depth of China's ice disciplines, an area where the nation has historically excelled.
Skiing goals
At the heart of China's medal aspirations are the returning Beijing 2022 champions, many of whom have navigated injuries, comebacks, and intense training cycles to reclaim their spots.
Snowboarding prodigy Su Yiming, who at 17 became China's youngest Winter Olympic gold medalist in the men's big air at Beijing 2022, is one of the key figures.
He'll compete in big air and slopestyle in Livigno, kicking off with the men's big air finals on Sunday, potentially delivering China's first medal of the Games alongside teammates Yang Wenlong and Ge Chunyu.
His buildup to the competition has been positive, with Su noting the venue "feels comfortable overall" after initial sessions.
Freestyle skiing sensation Gu Ailing, the US-born star also known as Eileen Gu who electrified the Beijing Olympics with two golds and a silver, headlines the squad.
Now 22, Gu has reaffirmed her commitment to representing China, emphasizing her role in inspiring millions of young girls to embrace winter sports.
Veterans like Xu Mengtao and Qi Guangpu, both aerials gold medalists from Beijing, embark on their fifth Olympics alongside Cai Xuetong and Liu Jiayu in the half-pipe.
Both Xu and Qi, 35, epitomize resilience, having inspired a new generation.
Emerging talents also shine too, as 18-year-old snowboarders Ge Chunyu and Zhang Xiaonan, and 17-year-old half-pipe athlete Ren Chongshuo making up the squad's youngest members.
Ice hopes
The Chinese short track speed skating team, a traditional powerhouse, features a star-studded team led by Lin Xiaojun, Liu Shaoang and Fan Kexin.
The mixed team 2,000-meter relay finals on Tuesday are pegged as the first opportunity for gold, with strong prospects in the men's 500 and 1,000 meters and relays against Canada, South Korea and hosts Italy.
The short track team has set clear goals: "Win glory for the nation, give their all in every event," according to team vice chief Liu Hao.
Figure skating pair Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, Beijing Olympic gold medalists, return after a brief hiatus.
Overcoming injuries and fitness challenges, they earned silver at the Four Continents Championships last month in Beijing. They'll challenge Italian and Japanese rivals in the pairs free skate finals on February 17.
Veteran Jin Boyang, in his third Olympics, and ice dancers Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu round out a competitive lineup.
Speed skating offers another stronghold, with Gao Tingyu defending his men's 500-meter gold on February 15. The 28-year-old has battled injuries but remains optimistic.
Teammate Ning eyes the 1,500 meters on February 19, while women's middle- and long-distance specialists Yin Qi and Han Mei aim to eclipse China's best overseas speed skating results.
The Chinese curling teams, led by veteran Xu Xiaoming and Wang Rui as well as newcomers like Jiang Jiayi, will face European powerhouses but hope for podium returns through steady play.
Emerging talents
Beyond its core strengths, China's push into emerging disciplines signals comprehensive growth.
Full participation in bobsleigh and skeleton follows Beijing breakthroughs, with aims for higher placements in steel-frame skeleton.
The Games' sole new event, ski mountaineering, sees China fielding a full team, including youth standouts Bu Luer and Cidan Yuzhen, targeting a historic medal in the mixed relay on February 21.
The biathlon and cross-country skiing teams are aiming for breakthroughs, with athletes targeting personal bests amid fierce international competition.
As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics unfolds, China's delegation stands poised to build on the legacy of Beijing 2022, blending veteran prowess with emerging talent to inspire a new era in global winter sports.
Complementing these athletic endeavors, the Chinese Olympic Committee also launched the "China House" in Milan on Wednesday as a platform to showcase the nation's sporting achievements and rich cultural heritage, welcoming international visitors until the Games' conclusion on February 22.
This 286-member team, including 126 athletes, will compete across a record 91 events in 15 disciplines, covering about 78.4 percent of the total 116 events, showcasing the rapid evolution of Chinese winter athletics since the home triumph at Beijing 2022.
The average age of 25 underscores a balanced squad: Nine defending Beijing gold medalists return to defend their legacies, while over 20 athletes born after 2005 inject fresh energy, representing more than half of the newcomers making their Olympic debuts.
Leading the charge into the opening ceremony will be speed skater Ning Zhongyan and short track speed skater Zhang Chutong, who have been named as flag bearers for the Chinese delegation.
Ning, 26, brings a pedigree of multiple World Cup medals earned since 2019, including three golds from the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
Zhang, 22, adds her own shine with a gold in the women's 3,000-meter relay at the 2025 Asian Games and a bronze in the same event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Their selection symbolizes the depth of China's ice disciplines, an area where the nation has historically excelled.
Skiing goals
At the heart of China's medal aspirations are the returning Beijing 2022 champions, many of whom have navigated injuries, comebacks, and intense training cycles to reclaim their spots.
Snowboarding prodigy Su Yiming, who at 17 became China's youngest Winter Olympic gold medalist in the men's big air at Beijing 2022, is one of the key figures.
Chinese snowboarder Su Yiming Photo: VCG
Now 21, Su has maintained his edge with two golds, one silver and one bronze medals at the FIS World Cup series this season.He'll compete in big air and slopestyle in Livigno, kicking off with the men's big air finals on Sunday, potentially delivering China's first medal of the Games alongside teammates Yang Wenlong and Ge Chunyu.
His buildup to the competition has been positive, with Su noting the venue "feels comfortable overall" after initial sessions.
Freestyle skiing sensation Gu Ailing, the US-born star also known as Eileen Gu who electrified the Beijing Olympics with two golds and a silver, headlines the squad.
Now 22, Gu has reaffirmed her commitment to representing China, emphasizing her role in inspiring millions of young girls to embrace winter sports.
Chinese skier Gu Ailing Photo: VCG
She'll defend her half-pipe title while also targeting slopestyle and big air, starting with the women's slopestyle on Monday and then teaming up with Li Fanghui and Zhang Kexin for the half-pipe.Veterans like Xu Mengtao and Qi Guangpu, both aerials gold medalists from Beijing, embark on their fifth Olympics alongside Cai Xuetong and Liu Jiayu in the half-pipe.
Both Xu and Qi, 35, epitomize resilience, having inspired a new generation.
Emerging talents also shine too, as 18-year-old snowboarders Ge Chunyu and Zhang Xiaonan, and 17-year-old half-pipe athlete Ren Chongshuo making up the squad's youngest members.
Ice hopes
The Chinese short track speed skating team, a traditional powerhouse, features a star-studded team led by Lin Xiaojun, Liu Shaoang and Fan Kexin.
The mixed team 2,000-meter relay finals on Tuesday are pegged as the first opportunity for gold, with strong prospects in the men's 500 and 1,000 meters and relays against Canada, South Korea and hosts Italy.
Chinese short track speed skater Lin Xiaojun Photo: VCG
Lin, at 30, views Milano Cortina as likely his last Olympic Games. "The past eight years have been tough, but I pushed through, thanks to my team's unwavering support. This time, I'll give everything," he said in an interview with CCTV News.The short track team has set clear goals: "Win glory for the nation, give their all in every event," according to team vice chief Liu Hao.
Figure skating pair Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, Beijing Olympic gold medalists, return after a brief hiatus.
Overcoming injuries and fitness challenges, they earned silver at the Four Continents Championships last month in Beijing. They'll challenge Italian and Japanese rivals in the pairs free skate finals on February 17.
Veteran Jin Boyang, in his third Olympics, and ice dancers Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu round out a competitive lineup.
Speed skating offers another stronghold, with Gao Tingyu defending his men's 500-meter gold on February 15. The 28-year-old has battled injuries but remains optimistic.
Teammate Ning eyes the 1,500 meters on February 19, while women's middle- and long-distance specialists Yin Qi and Han Mei aim to eclipse China's best overseas speed skating results.
The Chinese curling teams, led by veteran Xu Xiaoming and Wang Rui as well as newcomers like Jiang Jiayi, will face European powerhouses but hope for podium returns through steady play.
Emerging talents
Beyond its core strengths, China's push into emerging disciplines signals comprehensive growth.
Full participation in bobsleigh and skeleton follows Beijing breakthroughs, with aims for higher placements in steel-frame skeleton.
The Games' sole new event, ski mountaineering, sees China fielding a full team, including youth standouts Bu Luer and Cidan Yuzhen, targeting a historic medal in the mixed relay on February 21.
The biathlon and cross-country skiing teams are aiming for breakthroughs, with athletes targeting personal bests amid fierce international competition.
As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics unfolds, China's delegation stands poised to build on the legacy of Beijing 2022, blending veteran prowess with emerging talent to inspire a new era in global winter sports.
Complementing these athletic endeavors, the Chinese Olympic Committee also launched the "China House" in Milan on Wednesday as a platform to showcase the nation's sporting achievements and rich cultural heritage, welcoming international visitors until the Games' conclusion on February 22.
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