China solidified its reputation as a winter sports powerhouse at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, delivering thrilling performances across multiple disciplines. Athletes from the host nation claimed gold in cross-country relays, freestyle skiing, and the debut of ski mountaineering – a clean sweep demonstrating both depth and diversity in winter sports talent.
Cross-Country Triumph
The women's 4Ă—5km relay team of Li Lei, Chi Chunxue, Chen Lingshuang, and Dinigeer Yilamujiang set the tone early, dominating from start to finish with a 53:59.3 finish. Their male counterparts in the 4Ă—7.5km relay staged a dramatic comeback, overtaking Japan in the final leg to win by 3.2 seconds in one of the day's most cinematic moments.
Freestyle Skiing Dominance
Liu Mengting led China’s historic 1-2-3 finish in women’s freestyle skiing big air, scoring 175.50 points. The 19-year-old phenom, who also won slopestyle gold earlier this week, told reporters: \"We’re showing how Chinese athletes are pushing boundaries in new winter sports.\"
History in the Making
Ski mountaineering emerged as a festival highlight, with Chinese teams claiming all three podium spots in the mixed relay. The sport's inclusion at these games – and upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics debut – signals growing global interest in adventure athletics. Local spectators cheered wildly as home athletes secured 9 total medals in this discipline alone.
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Host nation China's athletes continue to win at Asian Winter Games
cgtn.com
