China closed the 2024-25 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Tour with a golden flourish in Beijing this weekend, snatching victory in both the mixed team relay and men’s 5,000-meter relay! 🌟 The home team’s fiery performance had fans cheering as Fan Kexin, Gong Li, Liu Shaoang, and Sun Long blazed through the mixed relay final in 2:39.115, leaving rivals from South Korea, the U.S., and Poland in their icy wake.
💬 \"It was an all-out battle – every millisecond counted,\" said Gong Li, still catching her breath post-race. Her team’s triumph contrasted with her personal challenge in the women’s 1,500m, where fatigue from back-to-back races pushed her to a Final B win. \"I’ll level up my stamina next time,\" she vowed, proving even champions have room to grow. 🏋️♀️
While China ruled the relays, global stars shone elsewhere: U.S. skaters Kristen Santos-Griswold and Corinne Stoddard claimed a slick one-two finish in the women’s 1,500m, while Canada’s Felix Roussel sliced through the men’s 1,000m final. Dutch speedster Xandra Velzeboer lived up to her world-record hype, outsprinting three Canadians in the women’s 500m. 🇳🇱💨
With new race formats testing skaters’ adaptability, Gong revealed their secret: \"We mimicked tight turnaround times in training – it paid off!\" 🕒 As Beijing’s ice settles, the world’s short track elite now eye their next showdown – but for now, China’s double gold rush takes center stage. 🇨🇳✨
