Short track speed skaters participate in a training session at the Capital Indoor Stadium on March 10, 2025 in Beijing. Photo: Courtesy of World Championships organizing committee

Beijing is set to host the most highly anticipated event in short track speed skating as the World Championships return to the city's iconic Capital Indoor Stadium for the first time in 20 years. 

Dubbed the pinnacle event of the short track season, the world championships, scheduled from Friday to Sunday, also serve as a crucial test for athletes ahead of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics to be held in February 2026.

Sun Long, who has won two individual gold medals in the men's 500 meters at the short track World Tour series this season, said the Chinese team's preparation for the home event has been solid.

"Our team has the strength to contend for gold medals," Sun said during Wednesday's pre-event news conference, emphasizing China's ambitions ahead of the championships.

Noting that the team has been progressing step by step throughout the season and is currently in excellent form, he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of short track speed skating. 

"Short track is a highly unpredictable sport. We can only ensure our own thorough preparation and must be ready to adapt to any changes that occur during the competition."

Competing on home ice, Sun emphasized the team's determination to finish the season strong. 

"Competing on home ice, we aim to conclude this season on a high note. The entire Chinese team has been advancing step by step through this process and is currently in a relatively good state," he said.

Unmet expectations

China finished the short track World Tour series with five gold, two silver and five bronze medals, placing fifth behind Canada, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the US. But the result falls short of many Chinese fans' expectations.

In December 2024, the Chinese team secured victories at the World Tour Beijing event in the men's 500m, men's 5,000m relay and mixed relay in this very arena.

At the 2024 short track world championships, the Chinese team delivered four gold medals, fueling the fans' expectations that the Chinese athletes could surpass that achievement on home ice this year.

Veteran skater Fan Kexin, 31, who has represented China since 2010, said on Thursday that the team is "fully motivated" for the home championships.

"Everyone is fully motivated. This is the last competition of the season and also the final major event of this Olympic cycle," Fan told reporters on Thursday. "Everyone hopes to showcase their best performance."

The next short track season includes the Olympics, making the World Tour series, which has scheduled four stops next season, more demanding.

"The World Tour series next season will serve as both a ranking event and an Olympic qualification event, which means there will be no room for mistakes," she said. 

Emerging talents like Yang Jingru are also getting their first taste of senior-level major international competition, a critical experience for both the athlete and the team's long-term prospects.

China's Liu Shaoang (left) and Gong Li skate in a training session on March 13, 2025 in Beijing. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

 Embracing challenges

While the Chinese squad boasts a rich competitive pedigree, recent international meets have reminded everyone that the field is growing fiercer. 

With 164 top skaters from 36 countries and regions converging in Beijing, the championship is set to be an arena where the best players in the world test their skills before the high-pressure environment of the Olympics. 

With formidable teams from the Netherlands, Italy, and notably, Canada, which was recently honored with the team-best award by the International Skating Union, the stakes in Beijing have never been higher.

In light of these challenges, the Chinese coaching staff and athletes have taken a hard look at strategy and team composition. Adjustments have become necessary, especially in light of star athlete Lin Xiaojun being sidelined due to injury.

This homecoming for the Beijing championships is particularly symbolic. 

After two decades, the Capital Indoor Stadium is once again the stage for world-class competition, a venue that has witnessed many historic moments in short track, including the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

"I'm very familiar with this ice rink, having competed here many times, only the competition names have changed," Fan said, highlighting her familiarity with the venue, where she won her Olympic gold medal in the mixed relay in 2022. "This might be my last time skating at this stadium before the 2026 Olympics, so I will cherish every moment on the ice."

Legacy building

Over the last two decades, China's winter sports landscape has undergone tremendous transformation. 

Yang Yang's Olympic gold medal win at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002 ignited hopes for China to deliver a top performance, followed by the dominance of Wang Meng in the sport. Their achievements were made when winter sports in general did not receive enough attention and investment compared to today.

Moreover, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics significantly boosted investments in infrastructure and athlete development, paving the way for a new generation of young skaters who are now making headlines.

A sensational "rabbit tactic" by China's Yang Junru and Li Jinzi surprised many in the girl's 1,500 meters at the Winter Youth Olympics in 2024, as the duo clinched a gold and a silver medal respectively.

Earlier in March, the young Chinese skaters, led by Zhang Bohao and Li Xinyu, finished the junior world championships with four silver and two bronze medals.