China claimed one gold and one bronze medal at the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Tour in Milan, wrapping up a weekend of intense competition ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Sun Long and the women's relay team delivered podium finishes, while unexpected twists marked Sunday's finals.
The men's 5,000-meter relay saw China's team—Sun Long, Liu Shaolin, Liu Shaoang, and Liu Guanyi—compete fiercely until a late crash dashed their medal hopes. Italy triumphed on home ice, with Canada taking silver and Kazakhstan bronze.
Earlier, Liu Shaoang and Sun Long narrowly missed individual medals in the 1,000-meter final, finishing fourth and fifth. Canada's William Dandjinou dominated the race, while Italy's Pietro Sighel and South Korea's Jang Sung-woo rounded out the podium.
Belgium's Hanne Desmet stole the spotlight in the women's 1,500-meter final, overtaking US skaters to claim gold. China's Yang Jingru finished seventh in a race that tested endurance and tactical precision.
With most top skaters participating (except injured Lin Xiaojun), the event served as a critical warm-up for Milano-Cortina 2026. China's performance highlights both promising talent and areas for improvement as athletes prepare for the Olympic stage.
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China earn two medals at Short Track Speed Skating World Tour Milan
cgtn.com
