Chinese short track speed skaters off to solid start to new season

Chinese skaters Liu Shaolin (left) and Liu Shaoang are interviewed by the press in Beijing on July 11, 2023. Photo: Cui Meng/Global Times

 China wrapped up the second leg of the 2023-24 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup with two golds, one silver and one bronze in Montreal, Canada, on Sunday local time as young skaters honed their skills at international competitions.

In the men's 5,000m final, Sun Long and naturalized Chinese skaters Lin Xiaojun, Liu Shaoang and Liu Shaolin outpaced host skaters to win gold with a time of 7 minutes and 3.468 seconds. Canada and Kazakhstan finished second and third. 

Meanwhile, spearheaded by Lin, the Chinese team also won back-to-back gold in the mixed 2,000m relay after winning it in the first leg. Liu Shaolin and Lin clinched a 2-3 finish in the men's 500m. 

In the first leg of the world cup also held in Montreal, Liu Shaoang, the reigning Olympic 500m champion, clocked 40.875 seconds to win gold in the men's 500m. 

This season's world cup features six legs, which started on October 20 in Canada and will end on February 11, 2024, in Poland. The third leg will take place in Beijing from December 8 to 10.

China has fielded a squad of veterans and new blood for the new season of international competitions, finishing the first two legs in Canada with four golds and ranking third place on the overall medal table where South Korea and Canada rank first and second. 

Zhang Jing, coach of the Chinese short track speed skating team, said that the new season is an opportunity for veterans to regain the rhythm of competition and for young skaters to find their feet at international events. 

China is also fielding a 6-member second-string team to compete in the maiden ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating starting from this season. 

"In the future, teams of different age groups will be established so they may participate in competitions so that we can enlarge the pool of talents. The training and growth of young athletes is the key to ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the Chinese short track speed skating team," said Zhang.

"By participating in the junior world cup, young athletes can gain more experience in international competitions and improve their skills as soon as possible," the coach noted.

Next, China will field its second-string team to take part in the Four Continents Short Track Speed Skating Championships starting from November 3 in Canada.