Excitement builds in Beijing as China launches its record-setting team for the 25th Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, from February 6-22. With 126 athletes—the most ever for an overseas Winter Games—diving into 91 events across 15 sub-items and seven disciplines, the 286-member group eyes global supremacy.
Staffed robustly with 160 non-athletes, the delegation features 68 women and 58 men, averaging 25 years old. Veterans like 41-year-old Shu Xiaoming in curling contrast with 17-year-old Ren Zhongshuo in snowboard halfpipe. Ethnic minorities contribute vibrantly, 16 strong from groups including Tibetan, Mongolian, Kazakh, Uyghur, Hui, Manchu, and Korean.
Olympic pedigree abounds: 59 have prior Games experience, nine as Beijing 2022 champions in stars Su Yiming, Gu Ailing, Sui Wenjing, Han Cong, Shu Mengtao, and Qiu Guangfu. First-timers at 67 bring raw talent to the mix. This surpasses all prior benchmarks in scale and scope amid the event’s 16 sub-items and 116 contests.
As flags rise in Milan, China’s athletes carry national pride, diverse roots, and unyielding drive. Their campaign promises not just participation, but podium assaults—potentially ushering winter sports into a golden age for the dragon on ice.