Beijing has officially assembled its largest-ever delegation for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, marking a historic milestone in China’s winter sports journey. The 25th Winter Games, set to unfold from February 6 to 22 in Italy, will see 126 Chinese athletes competing across a wide array of events, surpassing previous records in both participant numbers and event participation.
The team comprises 286 members in total, including 126 athletes—68 women and 58 men—supported by 160 staff. They will contest in seven major categories, 15 sub-items, and 91 events, showcasing China’s growing prowess on snow and ice. Star athletes like Olympic champions Su Yiming, Gu Ailing, Sui Wenjing, Han Cong, Qiu Guangfu, and Shu Mengtao lead the charge, bringing medal-winning experience to the fore.
With an average age of 25, the squad blends youthful energy and seasoned expertise. Curling veteran Shu Xiaoming, at 41, represents endurance, while 17-year-old snowboarder Ren Zhongshuo embodies the next generation’s promise. Notably, 16 athletes hail from China’s ethnic minorities, including Manchu, Tibetan, Kazakh, Uyghur, Hui, Mongolian, and Korean backgrounds, highlighting national diversity.
Experience meets opportunity in this lineup: 59 athletes are Winter Olympics veterans, nine of whom clinched gold in Beijing 2022. Meanwhile, 67 newcomers step onto the international stage for the first time, eager to etch their names in history. As China eyes more podium finishes, this delegation signals ambitious goals for the Milan games, building on recent successes to dominate winter sports.