In a historic triumph for China’s winter sports, 21-year-old Zhao Dan clinched the country’s first-ever gold medal in the women’s skeleton at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup in Yanqing, Beijing, on Saturday. Zhao delivered an exceptional performance, finishing first in both heats to secure victory with a combined time of 2:04.27. She edged out 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic champion Hannah Neise of Germany by 0.37 seconds. Britain’s Freya Tarbit claimed the bronze with a time of 2:04.68. “I finally realized my dream at home,” Zhao expressed with joy after her groundbreaking win. “Our whole team has made great progress in recent years, and I performed my best today. I’m delighted to win the gold. I need to stay focused and give my all in the upcoming events overseas.” This victory builds on Zhao’s impressive performance last season, where she earned China’s first medal in the women’s skeleton at the IBSF World Cup by taking silver, finishing just 0.02 seconds behind Germany’s Tina Hermann. In the men’s skeleton event, Germany’s Christopher Grotheer, the 2022 Olympic gold medalist, continued his dominance by winning with a time of 2:01.93. Britain’s Matt Weston finished a mere 0.01 seconds behind to take silver, while China’s Yin Zheng secured the bronze, adding to the host nation’s successes. Zhao Dan’s historic gold marks a significant milestone for China in the sport of skeleton, highlighting the nation’s growing prowess in winter sports on the global stage. Her achievement is an inspiration for aspiring athletes and a testament to the dedication and hard work of China’s winter sports program.
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Zhao Dan wins China's first women's skeleton gold at IBSF World Cup
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