With less than 14 months remaining until the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Chinese athletes across multiple disciplines are demonstrating strong form as they prepare to build on their Beijing 2022 achievements. The nation’s winter sports program has evolved significantly since hosting the Games three years ago, blending returning champions with emerging talent.
In short track speed skating – a traditional stronghold – China secured maximum athlete quotas for all nine events through dominant World Tour performances. Veterans Liu Shaolin and Lin Xiaojun anchor a squad that claimed 11 medals this season, while Sun Long’s breakthrough performances signal promising depth.
Figure skating sees the highly anticipated return of pairs legends Han Cong and Sui Wenjing, who came out of retirement seeking to add Milano Cortina gold to their Beijing 2022 triumph. Their comeback coincides with China qualifying athletes in all four figure skating disciplines for the first time.
Snowboarding prodigy Su Yiming continues to dominate his sport, securing back-to-back World Cup victories this winter. The 21-year-old’s technical mastery positions him as a favorite to defend his big air title. Meanwhile, freestyle skier Gu Ailing reaffirmed her aerial prowess with a World Cup gold medal performance last month, silencing doubts about her post-injury form.
Speed skating presents both continuity and renewal. Beijing 2022 champion Gao Tingyu leads the charge alongside Asian Winter Games gold medalist Ning Zhongyan, while younger skaters like Li Qishi show growing competitiveness in middle-distance events.
With curling teams qualified in both men’s and women’s divisions, and aerial skier Xu Mengtao pursuing a record fifth Olympic appearance at 35, China’s delegation combines experience with youthful energy. As training intensifies through 2025, these athletes carry not only personal ambitions but also the momentum of China’s rapidly developing winter sports ecosystem.
