China's winter sports stars have landed in Italy with Olympic energy! The nation's short track speed skating team and snowboard big air/slopestyle squads arrived early Saturday, becoming the first Chinese athletes to settle into the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics infrastructure since venues were officially opened.
⚡ Quick start: The 10-member skating team went straight from the airport to their first training session. Coach Zhang Jing told reporters: "We're managing the jet lag – it was a 12-hour overnight flight, but we're ready to adapt our schedule. The Olympic Village check-in process might take time, but we'll hit the ice running!"
❄️ Snowboarders took a scenic detour: The big air and slopestyle teams continued directly to Livigno's competition zone – a 4-5 hour drive from Milan. "This gives our athletes extra recovery time after the long flight," explained a team coordinator.
With 100+ days until the February 6 opening ceremony, this early arrival shows China's determination to conquer Alpine conditions. Stay tuned for more updates as Team China prepares to #ShineInCortina! 🌟
