As the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics enter their second week, Team China is rewriting its snow-and-ice narrative. While freestyle skiing superstar Gu Ailing continues to dominate headlines with her gravity-defying tricks 🏂, a squad of Gen-Z athletes is making history across previously uncharted disciplines.
18-year-old Li Wenhao stunned crowds this week by landing China's first Olympic ski jump medal 🥈, while speed skater Zhang Yiran broke Asian records in the 1000m event. 'These results aren't accidents,' says sports analyst Chen Wei. 'They're the payoff from China's decade-long winter sports push post-2022 Beijing Games.'
Behind the scenes, traditional Chinese medicine therapies like acupuncture are trending in the athletes' village 🧑⚕️, with Team China hosting cultural showcases featuring digital art installations blending ancient ink painting motifs with VR snowscapes.
But amid the triumphs, athletes voice growing climate concerns ❄️🔥. 'We're literally watching our competition venues change year to year,' notes alpine skier Wang Meili. With Cortina's temperatures hitting record highs this February, the Games have become a living lab for sustainable winter sports innovation.
