China showcased its prowess at the final competition day of the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track Speed Skating World Tour in Milan, earning one gold and one bronze medal.
In the men's 5,000-meter relay final, China's quartet of Sun Long, Liu Shaolin, Liu Shaoang, and Liu Guanyi maintained a strong position within the top three during the first half of the race. However, a late-race fall by Liu Guanyi disrupted their chances of securing an additional medal. Host nation Italy surged ahead in the final stretch, overtaking Canada to clinch the gold. Canada earned the silver medal, while Kazakhstan took home the bronze.
Earlier in the day, Liu Shaoang and Sun Long finished fourth and fifth respectively in the men's 1,000-meter final. Canada's William Dandjinou led from the start and maintained his advantage to claim the gold. Italy's Pietro Sighel secured the second spot, followed by South Korea's Jang Sung-woo in third place.
In the women's 1,500-meter final, Belgium's Hanne Desmet and Italy's Arianna Fontana demonstrated strong performances by overtaking two American skaters in the latter half of the race. Desmet clinched the gold, with Kristen Santos of the United States taking silver and Fontana earning the bronze. China's Yang Jingru finished in seventh place.
This competition served as a key test event for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, making it highly valued by all participating teams. Despite the absence of Lin Xiaojun due to injury, China fielded nearly all of its top skaters. The previous day, Sun Long had won gold in the men's 500-meter event, and China's women secured bronze in the 3,000-meter relay.
Reference(s):
China earn two medals at Short Track Speed Skating World Tour Milan
cgtn.com
