With the 2026 Winter Olympics set to open on February 6 in Milano Cortina, Chinese athletes across ice and snow disciplines are intensifying preparations, blending youthful energy with veteran experience as podium contenders steadily reach peak form.
China’s short track speed skating team delivered one of the strongest signals of readiness, completing all four stops of the ISU Short Track World Tour with full Olympic qualification. Led by Liu Shaolin, Liu Shaoang, Lin Xiaojun and Sun Long, the squad collected one gold, six silver and four bronze medals this season. Crucially, China secured the maximum quota of five men and five women, earning the right to compete in all nine Olympic events.
In speed skating, Gao Tingyu, a Beijing 2022 champion, and Asian Winter Games gold medalist Ning Zhongyan have spearheaded China’s campaign. After four World Cup stops, the team has claimed one silver and four bronze medals, underscoring growing competitiveness ahead of the Games.
Figure skating has also brought encouraging news, with China qualifying for all four disciplines — men’s, women’s, pairs and ice dance — at Milano Cortina 2026. Legendary pairs champions Han Cong and Sui Wenjing have returned from retirement, aiming for a memorable encore on Olympic ice in Italy.
On the curling sheet, both the Chinese men’s and women’s teams have secured Olympic berths, though China narrowly missed qualification in the mixed doubles event.
On snow, momentum continues to build. Snowboard star Su Yiming, the Beijing 2022 men’s big air champion, made a powerful comeback by dominating competition and claiming back-to-back World Cup titles in Zhangjiakou and Beijing. Meanwhile, freestyle skiing icon Gu Ailing returned from injury in emphatic style, winning gold in her signature women’s halfpipe at the FIS Freeski World Cup as she targets the defense of her two Olympic titles.
In freeski aerials, Beijing 2022 champion Xu Mengtao is chasing a remarkable fifth Olympic appearance. The 35-year-old recently claimed both individual and mixed team titles at consecutive World Cup events, keeping her Olympic dream firmly alive.
From returning legends and reigning champions to depth across team events, China’s foundation for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics is taking solid shape. Four years after hosting the Games in Beijing, Chinese athletes are now focused on carrying that momentum onto the world stage once again.