After missing the first two stops in Montreal and Salt Lake City, China’s celebrated short track speed skater Fan Kexin made a triumphant return at the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Tour in Beijing. Returning to the Capital Indoor Stadium, the venue where she clinched Team China’s first gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Fan showcased her prowess on home ice.
Fan wasted no time making her presence felt, advancing in the women’s 500-meter, 2,000-meter mixed relay, and women’s 3,000-meter relay on Friday. Despite this being her season debut, she expressed confidence in her form. “I feel like I’m in pretty good shape right now,” Fan shared. “Every time I compete, I’m increasingly aware that my opportunities to step onto the ice are becoming fewer, making me treasure every moment even more. As long as I get to compete, I’ll give it my all.”
During her absence from the first two stops, Fan remained dedicated to improving her performance. She focused on training and made significant adjustments to her equipment, including switching to a new pair of skates after two Olympic cycles. “It was a pity I missed the first two stops of the World Tour,” she reflected. “But I spent time finding and adapting to what feels most comfortable for me.”
Teammates and competitors alike welcomed Fan’s return. Fellow Chinese skater Gong Li noted, “Fan Kexin is back, and that of course makes our relay team stronger. She brings a wealth of experience, which leads us to achieve even better results.”
Italian Olympic champion Arianna Fontana also expressed her excitement. “I’m really happy she’s back, and we always have fun skating against her,” Fontana said. “She’s a really good skater, a real fighter on the ice. It’s always fun and a fight for sure when she’s skating against me.”
As Fan leads Team China into the rest of the season, fans and teammates alike are eager to see what heights they can reach together.
Reference(s):
China's Fan makes season debut at Short Track World Tour Beijing stop
cgtn.com
