China's mixed aerials team secured sixth place at the FIS World Championships in Switzerland on Thursday, narrowly missing the final round in a competition that tested their adaptability ahead of next year's Winter Olympics. The trio of Qi Guangpu, Xu Mengtao, and Wang Xindi faced stiff competition from seven nations, with only the top four advancing after the first round.
Despite Xu Mengtao's stumble in her opening jump—scoring 59.61 points—and Wang Xindi's near-clean 94.69-point routine, anchor Qi Guangpu delivered a clutch 119.03-point performance. The team's combined 273.33 points fell short of the final cutoff, but their focus remained on long-term preparation. Qi highlighted the event's strategic value, noting the venue's proximity to next year's Milan Winter Olympics site and differences in snow conditions compared to the Chinese mainland.
"The snow here resembles mud, unlike the icy textures we train on domestically," Qi told reporters. "This experience will help us adapt faster for Milan." The U.S. team dominated with 344.63 points, followed by Ukraine and Switzerland on the podium.
