Members of China's mixed 2,000m relay team greet the fans during the ISU Short-Track Speed Skating World Cup event in Beijing on Dec 9, 2023. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)
One gold and plenty more to cheer about — China's short-track speed skating team passed its home World Cup test with flying colors as the sport continues to gain traction in the Olympic city.
Not quite the glorious campaign that fans might have wished for, perhaps, but the team's overall performance at the World Cup's Beijing leg was nonetheless commendable as both veterans and young guns boosted confidence levels for the next Olympics.
The sport's soaring popularity, fed off a successful Beijing 2022 program, has also impressed the international community as the Olympic legacy continues to pay dividends for winter sports across the country.
Ranked third behind second-placed Canada and table-topping South Korea in the overall season medal standings, the Chinese team on Monday left for the World Cup circuit's fourth stop in Seoul, which takes place from Friday to Sunday, aiming to carry on the Beijing momentum to the Mokdong Ice Rink
Roared on by a rousing crowd at the sold-out Capital Indoor Stadium, the host squad collected one gold, four silver and five bronze medals across all individual and team disciplines — except the women's 3,000m relay — underlining the progress made in building a more versatile squad.
"Overall I think we did a pretty good job, even though we faced tough challenges from all the international opponents," Olympic champion skater Liu Shaoang said after winning the sole gold in the men's 1,000m on Sunday.
"Even though we had only one gold medal, we had more final appearances (than previous legs), which was quite an improvement collectively," added the Hungary-born Liu, who switched nationality earlier this year with his twin brother Sandor Liu Shaolin to represent their father's native country.
Ranked third behind second-placed Canada and table-topping South Korea in the overall season medal standings, the Chinese team on Monday left for the World Cup circuit's fourth stop in Seoul, which takes place from Friday to Sunday, aiming to carry on the Beijing momentum to the Mokdong Ice Rink.
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Team China's South Korean-born Olympic champion skater Lin Xiaojun, however, won't be able to skate in front of his native crowd due to an ankle injury he sustained in Sunday's 500m final A.
Fans cheer for members of the Chinese team during the ISU Short-Track Speed Skating World Cup event in Beijing on Dec 9, 2023. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)
Lin, known as Lim Hyo-jun before he opted to represent China in 2019, drew the loudest cheers in every race he skated in Beijing, where he overcame fatigue amid a hectic four-event schedule to help the host win mixed 2,000m relay silver and men's 5,000m relay bronze.
As a five-time World Cup winner in 500m, Lin's attempt to go for his first sprint title this season was denied by an accidental clash with teammate Liu Shaoang in Saturday's A final, which resulted in Lin being penalized and Liu being knocked off balance to lose the lead to eventual winner Jordan Pierre-Gilles of Canada.
Attempting a passing maneuver in the second lap, Lin came into contact with leader Liu as they approached the corner, an incident which both skaters shrugged off as a "normal occurrence" in the high-octane sport.
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Lin Xiaojun (front) of China competes during the men's 500m heat at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series in Beijing, China, Dec 8, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
"He apologized to me right after we came off the ice and I told him it's OK. In short-track, something like that is completely normal. We are both competitive athletes on the ice and we both want to win. Off the rink we are still good friends. It's totally OK," said Liu, the reigning 500m Olympic champion.
"I've a good relationship with Shaoang. The competition between us on the ice will only push us to improve together," Lin said through a translator on Sunday.
With the high-profile Liu brothers and Lin attracting most of the attention, the return of reigning men's 1,000m Olympic champion Ren Ziwei and experienced women's sprinter Fan Kexin also made headlines over the weekend.
Liu Shaoang (left) of China and Jang Sung-woo of South Korea compete during the men's 5000m relay final A at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series in Beijing, China, Dec 10, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Both veterans took long breaks from competitive action to recover from long-standing injuries following Beijing 2022, where they were members of China's gold-winning 2,000m mixed relay team.
They showed that they still have plenty of gas left in the tank as they enter another Olympic cycle.
Fan, a five-time 500m world champion who won her last international title in 2017, was particularly emotional after proving on home ice that, at the age 30, she can still keep up with her much younger rivals in the sprint discipline.
To the excitement of the sport's diehard fans, the Beijing race has witnessed the rise of China's next-gen skaters, highlighted by three youngsters claiming their first individual World Cup medals. Those results raised hopes for a strong campaign at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games
"I just love this rink so much. I felt like just going back in time," Fan said after kissing the ice at the arena following her runner-up finish in the 500m final A on Saturday in a repeat of her gesture during the mixed relay medal ceremony at Beijing 2022.
The three-time Olympian capped her encouraging weekend with a second medal, a bronze, in the second 500m race on Sunday.
Although failing to reach any individual finals in Beijing, Ren contributed to two relay medals last week and rekindled his competitive spirit as he attempts to rediscover his best form.
"The individual race didn't go as I'd expected this time as I am not yet fully recovered in terms of endurance and strength," said Ren, who finished fifth in his 1,500m semifinal heat to miss the final cut.
"There is a silver lining behind the disappointment, because I now have a better idea of what areas I need to improve so I can come back quicker," said Ren.
Fan Kexin (right) of China competes during the women's 500m heat at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series in Beijing, China, Dec 8, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
To the excitement of the sport's diehard fans, the Beijing race has witnessed the rise of China's next-gen skaters, highlighted by three youngsters claiming their first individual World Cup medals. Those results raised hopes for a strong campaign at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
READ MORE: Skate expectations for China's speedsters
"To be able to finish on the podium together with my idol Fan Kexin at home was a dream come true. I definitely will build on the momentum here to keep working hard and learning from the veterans to be better," teenager Wang Ye said after winning a bronze in the women's 500m on Saturday.
