China's short track speed skating team delivered a spirited performance at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, securing fourth place in the mixed team relay with a time of 2:39.601. The squad featuring Liu Shaoang, Sun Long, Gong Li, and Zhang Chutong fought hard but narrowly missed the podium in Sunday's final.
🏆 Host nation Italy claimed gold (2:39.019), with Canada taking silver (2:39.258) and Belgium surprising many with bronze (2:39.353). The result marks a shift from China's back-to-back silver medals in this event during previous Winter Games.
🇨🇳 Fans tracked the team's journey through dramatic rounds: A 1.59-second quarterfinal deficit against Canada, followed by strategic lineup changes in the semifinals where Liu Shaoang replaced Lin Xiaojun. The revamped squad nearly caught Italy, finishing just 0.893 seconds behind the eventual champions.
While the fourth-place finish stings, the Chinese team's technical precision and last-lap pushes kept viewers glued to screens worldwide. With young stars like 21-year-old Wang Xinran gaining experience, the future looks bright for China's ice racing program. ❄️💨
