In a thrilling showdown at Beijing’s International Skating Union (ISU) Olympic qualifying event, China’s own Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang Yihang glided to the top of the podium and punched their ticket to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The dynamic duo combined powerful lifts and seamless transitions to rack up a total of 191.53 points, after leading Friday’s short program.
"We made our utmost efforts in training," Zhang said, reflecting on the high stakes. "It was an honor to skate on this international stage and win the berth."
Huang echoed that confidence, noting, "We had some mistakes in the free skate and fluctuated a little bit, but basically, we performed steadily despite some pressure at home. China has a great tradition in pairs, so we are confident that our team can attain new heights in the future."
The top three pairs at the event earned Olympic spots, and Zhang and Huang were joined by Armenia’s Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin and Japan’s Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi, showcasing the sport’s growing diversity. Meanwhile, France’s Camille Kovalev and Pavel Kovalev, despite a strong short program, finished fourth overall and narrowly missed out on qualification.
As the countdown begins to Milan-Cortina 2026, this new crop of global talent is ready to turn the world’s ice rinks into stages for unforgettable performances. For young sports fans and aspiring athletes alike, Zhang and Huang’s journey is a reminder that passion, precision, and perseverance can conquer even the most intense pressure moments.
Reference(s):
Chinese figure skating pair qualify for 2026 Winter Olympics
cgtn.com
