Yesterday, the speed skating national training team held a media open day at the "Ice Arena" in the comprehensive training hall of the Winter Sports Management Center. In the training hall, the team members sweat in front of the equipment and are actively preparing for the 2023-2024 ISU Speed Skating World Cup. According to the plan, they will fly to Japan on the 7th to participate in the first stop of the 2023-2024 ISU Speed Skating World Cup.
Li Yan, head coach of the speed skating national training team, said that the team members must have the ability to participate in a number of competitions in the new season, and the team needs to improve the comprehensive strength of each sub-event. "None of the men have qualified for the long distance events in Beijing, and the women are only competing, so the next goal is not only to increase the number of participants, but also to achieve a breakthrough in the competition," she said. ”
In this open day event, Li Yan introduced the preparation of the speed skating national training team for the Milan Winter Olympics. She said that after the Beijing Winter Olympics, the speed skating national training team set up a training camp for 130 outstanding athletes, and through a year of training, the physical fitness and mental outlook of the team members have been significantly improved, and she and the team have planted the "seed" of the championship in the hearts of each team member.
At the Beijing Winter Olympics, speed skating consists of 14 events, except for the men's 500m and other events, although Chinese athletes have made progress in the rest of the events, their competitiveness is still relatively weak. Li Yan hopes that the next step is to improve the overall competitiveness of the team. In addition, considering the limited number of places to participate in the Winter Olympics, she also hopes to develop the ability of her team members, "For example, Gao Tingyu, 500 meters is a strong event, and I will also consider participating in other sprint events in the future." ”
Li Yan said that this season, the Chinese team has won 4 places in all women's events in the World Cup (5 out of all). On the men's side, except for the long distance (5,000m and 10,000m), which won two places, the rest of the events also won four places. However, thanks to the advantage of the host country, the Chinese team in Beijing will take all five places in all events. "Because we are the hosts, there will be more young people on the ice at the Ice Ribbon and they will have the opportunity to experience the high level of competition." Li Yan said.
Next, the Chinese team will go to Japan to participate in the first World Cup of the season from November 10 to November 12, and then return to Beijing on November 13 to prepare for the Beijing station.
Faced with the reporter's question of "whether there is a gold medal goal at the Milan Winter Olympics", Li Yan replied firmly: "There must be a gold medal goal, and only after setting the goal can the team work towards it and make a breakthrough in the competition." ”
concern
Chinese speed skaters are looking forward to the World Cup in Beijing
At present, the speed skating national training team is intensively preparing for various events in the new season under the leadership of head coach Li Yan. From November 17th to November 19th, the 2023-2024 ISU Speed Skating World Cup (Beijing Station) will be held at the National Speed Skating Hall "Ice Ribbon". The whole team said that they were looking forward to this high-level international event held at their doorstep.
After the Beijing Winter Olympics, the "Ice Ribbon" on the one hand undertook the task of ensuring the training of the national team, and on the other hand, it was also open to the public. She said that in order to prepare for the World Cup, the "Ice Ribbon" will be re-frozen, and she hopes that the excellent ice conditions will allow more athletes to skate well and let the audience relive the passion and emotion of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The 30-year-old veteran Li Qishi is no stranger to the Ice Ribbon, where she competed in the women's team pursuit, women's 1000m and women's mass start at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Talking about returning to her hometown, she said excitedly: "It's a home game, which can help us skate better." ”
During the Beijing Winter Olympics, 17-year-old Liu Bin witnessed Gao Tingyu's glorious moment of winning the men's 500m gold medal in the "Ice Ribbon" through the broadcast. Last season, he was selected for the national team and made his breakthrough from the youth to senior categories at the World Cup this season. Liu Bin is expected to compete in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m events in Beijing, and he is looking forward to it: "Ice Ribbon has hosted the Winter Olympics, we also train here, and we can learn a lot from the world's top athletes by watching the Winter Olympics videos on the big screen every day. ”
After a 21-month absence, Beijing Olympic champion Gao Tingyu will return to competition at the 2023-2024 ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Beijing on November 17. "This season is all about recovery for me, with three years to go until Milan and hopefully I can prepare better than in Beijing." Gao Tingyu said.
This group of articles/reporter Zhou Xueshuai
Co-ordinator/Wang Yong
Photo courtesy of Xinhua News Agency
List of China's speed skating training team
■Male athlete■
Gao Tingyu, Ning Zhongyan, Du Haonan, Li Tianlong, Liu Bin, Deng Zhihan, Liu Ze, Kwon Sang-hyuk, Zhang Guoqiang, Wu Yu, Wang Shuaihan, Sun Chuanyi, Li Wenhao, Almas Kahanbai, Turnburi Yelken, Cong Zhenlong
■Female athlete■
Li Qishi, Zhang Lina, Pei Chong, Tian Ruining, Xi Dongxue, Chen Xiangyu, Hai Tiange, Yang Binyu, Chen Aoyu, Li Yunyuan, Han Mei, Jin Wenliang, Wang Yingying, Zou Xinyue, Jiang Jiamin