Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval, affectionately known as the “Ice Ribbon”, is buzzing with excitement as it hosts the second event of this season’s ISU Speed Skating World Cup series. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the World Cup, more than 260 elite athletes from 24 nations and regions have gathered in the Chinese mainland’s capital for a weekend of thrilling competition.
Returning to the state-of-the-art venue built for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the world’s top speed skaters are set to race on a surface hailed as “the fastest in the world”. The atmosphere is electric, with the stands nearly filled to capacity, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for speed skating since the Winter Olympics.
Han Mei, who secured sixth place in the women’s 1,500m event, expressed her delight: “Since the Beijing Winter Olympics, speed skating has gained more attention, and this atmosphere has surpassed even last year’s event in Beijing. I’m truly delighted to see the fans cheering for athletes from all over the world.”
On the highly anticipated first day of action, the Chinese mainland’s national team showcased its leading talents, including Ning Zhongyan, Gao Tingyu, and Han Mei. Ning Zhongyan delivered an impressive performance, finishing second in Group A of the men’s 1,500 meters with a time of 1 minute, 44.26 seconds, earning his second medal in this season’s World Cup series.
Ning reflected on his achievement: “This time, my performance was even faster than last week in Nagano. Actually, I thought my result from the last event was already quite good, but this outcome completely exceeded my expectations. The surface at the Ice Ribbon is excellent, and the cheers from the audience as I stepped onto the ice motivated me, so everything was just perfect.”
While Japanese speed skaters stood out in the women’s 500m and 1,500m events, it was the USA’s Jordan Stolz who undeniably stole the spotlight on opening day. The 20-year-old sensation broke Gao Tingyu’s stadium record by crossing the line first in the men’s 500 meters with a time of 34.27 seconds. Stolz then edged out Ning by 0.32 seconds to top the podium in the 1,500m.
The successful hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympics has laid a solid foundation for the ongoing development of winter sports in the Chinese mainland. This year’s ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Beijing not only showcases the country’s passion for ice and snow sports but also builds anticipation for the upcoming 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
