Photo: Chen Tao/GT

While China's short track speed skating team faced a heartbreaking setback in the mixed team relay final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the disappointment should not overshadow the squad's resilience or potential for redemption in the remaining events. 

As the defending champions from Beijing 2022, the team, comprising Gong Li, Zhang Chutong, Liu Shaoang and Sun Long, started strong, leading early before mid-race mishaps allowed Italy to surge ahead and secure gold. 

The regret is palpable, especially given the unexpected early exits of powerhouses like the Netherlands and South Korea in the semifinals, which had opened a clearer path for China to retain their title.

In the post-race interview, Liu exemplified the team's unyielding spirit when addressing questions about specific errors by Zhang Chutong and Sun Long that contributed to the slip from the lead. He rejected the notion of individual blame. 

"This isn't their mistake; it's the team's mistake. If we lose, we lose together; if we win, we win together. This isn't anyone's fault," Liu said. His words underscore a core truth of relay racing: success and failure are collective, not isolated to one skater's misstep. 

The team's journey to the final demonstrated their capability, with steady performances in the quarterfinals clocking 2:39.193 and a semifinal victory over a formidable Dutch squad. This progression highlighted China's depth and determination, even as young athletes grappled with the high-stakes pressure of Olympic competition.

Such setbacks are inherent to short track speed skating, a discipline notorious for its unpredictability, where a single edge or exchange can alter outcomes dramatically. 

Yet, China's history in the sport offers ample evidence that one loss does not define a campaign. Since short track's Olympic debut in 1992, China has amassed 12 gold medals and 37 total medals, ranking second only to South Korea's dominance with 26 golds and 53 medals overall. 

Icons like Wang Meng, who collected four golds across the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and Yang Yang, who secured China's first Winter Olympic gold in 2002 with victories in the women's 500m and 1,000m, have shown how the nation rebounds from adversity. Even in Beijing 2022, after early stumbles, the team rallied to win golds in the mixed relay and men's 500m, proving that experience and unity can turn tides.

The Milano Cortina Games are far from over for China's short track contingent, with opportunities abound in individual and other relay events. The schedule includes the men's 1,000m and women's 500m which will see the finals on Thursday, followed by the men's 1,500m, women's 1,000m, men's 500m, women's 1,500m and both the men's 5,000m and women's 3,000m relays, culminating on February 20. 

Veterans like Liu, a double Olympic gold medalist aiming to become the first male skater to win three consecutive golds, and emerging talents such as Sun Long, as well as Olympic champion Lin Xiaojun who is making his debut for China, position the team well for breakthroughs. The exposed issues, inexperience among younger members and hand­over stability under pressure, can be addressed mid-Games, transforming regret into motivation.

Ultimately, competitive sports thrive on this blend of triumph and tribulation, and China's short track team embodies a spirit that transcends medals. Their willingness to confront shortcomings head-on reflects a deeper legacy of perseverance. The mixed relay outcome serves not as an endpoint but as a catalyst for greater achievements in the individual pursuits and remaining relays ahead.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn