Chinese figure skaters Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang Yihang have earned a coveted spot at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics after dominating the pairs competition at the International Skating Union (ISU) Olympic qualifying event in Beijing. The duo, who led Friday's short program, delivered a resilient free skate performance on Saturday to clinch first place with 191.53 points.
"We gave our all in training," Zhang told reporters, reflecting on their journey. "Competing on this global stage and securing qualification is a tremendous honor." Huang acknowledged minor errors during their routine but emphasized their confidence in China's strong pairs skating legacy: "We aim to build on this momentum and reach new heights."
Armenia's Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin, along with Japan's Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi, also secured Olympic berths by finishing in the top three. France's Camille and Pavel Kovalev narrowly missed qualification despite a strong short program showing.
The achievement underscores China's growing prominence in winter sports ahead of the 2026 Games, with athletes and fans alike anticipating fierce competition in Italy.
