After missing the first two stops in Montreal and Salt Lake City, China’s short track speed skater Fan Kexin made a triumphant return at the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Tour in Beijing. Returning to the Capital Indoor Stadium, where she secured Team China’s first gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Fan showcased her enduring prowess on the ice.
As a seasoned athlete, Fan led her team in pursuit of glory on home ice. On Friday, she advanced in the women’s 500-meter, 2,000-meter mixed relay, and women’s 3,000-meter relay events, expressing confidence in her form despite it being her season debut.
“I feel like I’m in pretty good shape right now,” Fan told reporters. “Every time I compete, I’m increasingly aware that my opportunities to step onto the ice are becoming fewer, making me treasure every moment even more. As long as I get to compete, I’ll give it my all.”
Although Fan missed the first two stops of this year, she remained engaged by closely following her teammates’ performances. During this time, she dedicated herself to training and fine-tuning her equipment, making thorough preparations for the upcoming competitions.
“It was a pity I missed the first two stops of the World Tour,” Fan added. “During that time, I made some adjustments to my equipment and switched to a new pair of skates. My old pair had been with me for two Olympic cycles, so I spent time finding and adapting to what feels most comfortable for me.”
For her younger teammates, Fan’s return undoubtedly strengthens the overall capabilities of the Chinese team.
“Fan Kexin is back; that of course makes our relay team stronger,” teammate Gong Li noted. “She brings a wealth of experience, which leads us to achieve even better results.”
Italian Olympic champion Arianna Fontana also expressed her feelings about Fan’s return, saying she was happy to see her back on the ice.
“I’m really happy she’s back, and we always have fun skating against her,” Fontana said. “She’s a really good skater, a real good fighter on the ice. So it’s always fun to be on the ice with her, and it’s always a fight for sure when she’s skating against me.”
Reference(s):
China's Fan makes season debut at Short Track World Tour Beijing stop
cgtn.com
