China's Short-Track Struggles Highlight Olympic Preparations at Harbin

The recent Winter Asiad in Harbin served as a crucial testing ground for China's short-track speed skaters ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games. Although the event saw some small mistakes, brought on by challenging track conditions and common body contact inherent in the sport, the Chinese team’s performance fell short of its ambitious expectations. Particularly striking was their overall campaign, where they were outclassed by South Korea, a nation famed for its decorated speed skating legacy.

The women's squad, buoyed by an enthusiastic home crowd at the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center, managed a dramatic turnaround in the 3,000m relay final by overtaking a strong South Korean quartet in the final lap. This win marked the only team gold for the host nation, yet it offered little consolation given the high hopes that had been set ahead of the Games. In contrast, the men's squad secured a bronze medal in the 5,000m relay after benefiting from a penalty imposed on their Korean rivals for an illegal obstruction, which bumped them up from their initial fourth place.

South Korea’s overall dominating presence was evident throughout the competition; they accumulated a total of six gold medals, significantly outpacing China’s tally of two, despite the latter finishing ahead of Kazakhstan on the medal table. The results provide a harsh reality check for the Chinese team, especially at a venue synonymous with the nation’s history of skating excellence. Expectations are now shifting as they prepare for the intense competition expected at Milano-Cortina 2026, where strong performances from Western powers will pose additional challenges.

Veteran athlete Fan Kexin, who expressed mixed emotions after the relay victory, admitted that the performance could have been stronger. Emphasizing the value of team unity in securing the medal, Fan also acknowledged that significant improvements are necessary to build a more competitive team for the forthcoming Olympic cycle. With prominent figures like Fan facing the end of their peak years and emerging talents not yet fully matching the prowess of international rivals, the call for more rigorous training and enhanced discipline is clear.

On the men’s side, issues related to the lack of roster depth became apparent, highlighted by the solitary individual gold claimed by Lin Xiaojun in the 500m race. Lin, himself a celebrated athlete with a history of Olympic success, has talked about the friendly yet fierce competition with his Korean counterpart, demonstrating that past rivalries continue to fuel ambitions. Looking forward, both teams are now shifting their focus to the final leg of the ISU World Tour, set to take place on Olympic ice in Milan next year, viewing the event as a critical rehearsal before the larger global stage.